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Brazil’s Lula Seeks Stronger Trade Ties During Japan State Visit
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva begins a four-day state visit to Japan on Monday, accompanied by a 100-member business delegation, as both nations look to strengthen trade relations amid growing U.S. tariffs.
Lula and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba are expected to discuss joint biofuel development ahead of the COP30 UN climate summit in the Brazilian Amazon this November. On Wednesday, the leaders will reaffirm their commitment to free trade, particularly in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and other imports.
Lula, 79, criticized global protectionism ahead of his departure. "Everyone who was talking about free trade is now practicing protectionism," he told Japanese media. "I think this protectionism is absurd."
Brazil is the second-largest exporter of steel to the U.S., shipping four million tonnes in 2024. Lula and Ishiba are likely to agree on regular leaders' visits and a strategic dialogue on security. They may also emphasize the importance of a rules-based international order, which is often seen as a veiled criticism of Chinese foreign policy.
The visit will include a welcome ceremony at Tokyo's Imperial Palace and a state banquet on Tuesday. Lula's third visit to Japan as president will focus on boosting Brazilian exports, ranging from beef to airplanes. Japan is Brazil's 11th-largest trading partner, while China remains its top partner.
Karina Calandrin, a professor at Sao Paulo's Ibmec business school, noted that Brazil's increasing dependence on China makes it vulnerable to changes in the international trade landscape. However, diversifying trade ties in the Asia-Pacific region may take time, according to Roberto Goulart, an international relations expert at Brasilia University.
Japan may see stronger ties with Brazil as a way to counterbalance Brazil's relationship with China and Russia, members of the BRICS bloc.
Lula’s visit also comes after his government issued a historic apology for Brazil's persecution of Japanese immigrants during and after World War II. Thousands of Japanese immigrants were displaced in 1943, and at least 150 were interned on a remote island. Lula called the apology "the least we can do to acknowledge our mistakes in the past."