China has strongly criticized the United States for imposing what it called “unsustainable” tariffs on Brazil, introduced by US President Donald Trump in response to the prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Brazil’s ongoing cooperation within the BRICS bloc.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing “firmly supports Brazil in defending its sovereignty and dignity” and “opposes unwarranted external interference” in its internal affairs. He pledged China’s backing for Brazil in resisting “bullying” tariff measures and strengthening cooperation among Global South nations, especially within the BRICS framework.

Speaking with Celso Amorim, a senior adviser to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Wang said using tariffs as a political weapon violates the UN Charter, undermines WTO rules, and is “unpopular and unsustainable.”

In late July, Trump announced a 50% tariff on all Brazilian goods, citing threats to US national security and concerns over Bolsonaro’s prosecution for allegedly plotting a coup after his 2022 election defeat. Trump has also accused BRICS of seeking to weaken the US dollar’s global influence.

Lula dismissed Trump’s stance, saying he is not “the emperor of the world,” and proposed a BRICS meeting to formulate a joint response.

Trump has hinted at similar tariffs for China and earlier raised duties on India by 25%, criticizing both nations for importing Russian oil during the Ukraine conflict. Moscow rejected the threats, asserting that sovereign nations are free to choose their trading partners.