Brazilian President Lula is on a state visit to Japan to strengthen trade ties and climate cooperation amid U.S. trade tensions. This visit, his third to Japan, aims to promote free trade and includes discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba to establish a bilateral action plan focusing on biofuels. Lula seeks to diversify Brazil’s economy and reduce reliance on China and the U.S., while reinforcing historical ties and acknowledging past injustices toward Japanese immigrants.
Strengthening Brazil-Japan Relations
On Monday, Brazilian President Lula, along with a significant economic delegation, commenced a state visit to Japan aimed at enhancing trade relationships and climate collaboration between the two nations, especially in light of the ongoing trade tensions initiated by the United States.
This four-day journey by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is 79 years old, comes at a time when the customs measures enacted by American President Donald Trump have put a strain on diplomatic relations between Washington and Brasilia.
Addressing Protectionism and Future Cooperation
Japan, a crucial ally of the United States, has not managed to secure an exemption from American tariffs on steel and is bracing for new tariffs targeting automobiles. Both countries are at risk of facing the reciprocal tariffs that Washington has threatened to implement soon.
Before departing for Tokyo, Lula expressed his concerns, stating, “Everyone who spoke of free trade is now practicing protectionism,” highlighting the absurdity of current global trade policies. Accompanied by over a hundred business representatives, Lula emphasized the importance of free trade.
This marks Lula’s third visit to Japan, which is recognized as the world’s fourth-largest economy. A welcoming ceremony is scheduled at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday, followed by a state banquet that evening.
During discussions on Wednesday, Lula and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba are anticipated to establish a bilateral action plan that includes the joint development of biofuels as part of their climate cooperation efforts. With Brazil set to host COP30 in November, this action plan may also involve mutual visits between the leaders every two years.
Additionally, both leaders are expected to reinforce their commitment to free trade, countering the protectionist policies promoted by Trump, according to Japanese media reports.
As the second-largest steel exporter to the United States after Canada, Brazil shipped approximately 4 million tons in 2024 and could face challenges if tariffs expand. Presently, however, China stands as Brazil’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing $160 billion in 2023, while Japan lags behind at the 11th position.
Karina Calandrin, a professor at the Ibmec business school in Sao Paulo, notes that Brazil’s increasing trade dependence on China poses risks, making the nation vulnerable to shifts in the international landscape amid a potential trade war.
In response to the evolving trade dynamics, Lula aims to promote Brazilian exports to Japan, which include commodities such as beef and aircraft from Embraer. His goal is to diversify Brazil’s economy and foreign trade, seeking to reduce reliance on both the United States and China.
However, achieving this may prove challenging due to Brazil’s structural dependence on China, as pointed out by Roberto Goulart, a professor of international relations at the University of Brasilia, who considers a significant rebalancing improbable in the near future.
Tokyo, on its end, hopes that fostering closer ties with Brazil will deter the South American nation from aligning too closely with China and Russia, which Brazil engages with in the BRICS bloc.
Brazil and Japan already share deep-rooted connections, exemplified by the largest Japanese diaspora in the world residing in Brazil, a legacy of extensive immigration from the early 20th century. Last year, Lula’s administration issued historical apologies for the persecution of Japanese immigrants during and after World War II, acknowledging past wrongs.
Lula reiterated the importance of these apologies, stating, “They are the least we can do to acknowledge our past mistakes,” before embarking on his journey to Japan.