Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began a four-day state visit to Japan on Monday, accompanied by a delegation of around 100 business leaders. The visit comes as both countries seek to deepen trade ties amid rising U.S. protectionism, particularly following recent tariff hikes imposed by President Donald Trump on steel and other imports.
During his trip, Lula is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to explore opportunities for cooperation, including the joint development of biofuels ahead of the COP30 UN climate summit, which Brazil will host in the Amazon region this November. High on the agenda is also a reaffirmation of both nations’ commitment to free trade, in contrast to recent global shifts toward protectionist policies.
“Everyone who was talking about free trade is now practicing protectionism,” Lula said in an interview with Japanese media before his departure. “I think this protectionism is absurd,” he added.
Brazil, which shipped four million tonnes of steel to the United States in 2024, is the second-largest steel exporter to the U.S. after Canada. The new U.S. tariffs have prompted Brazil and Japan to reconsider their economic strategies and explore stronger bilateral trade links.
Lula’s third presidential visit to Japan underscores his intention to increase Brazilian exports across sectors—from beef to aircraft. On Wednesday, he will attend an economic forum in Tokyo aimed at fostering new business opportunities between the two countries. A welcome ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday at the Imperial Palace, followed by a state banquet in the evening.
Despite growing trade with China—Brazil’s top trading partner—Brazilian officials and analysts acknowledge the risks of overreliance on a single market. Japan currently ranks as Brazil’s 11th-largest trade partner.
“Brazil has increased its commercial dependence on China in recent years,” noted Karina Calandrin, a professor at Ibmec Business School in São Paulo. However, with the U.S.-China trade tensions intensifying, Brazil’s exposure to global shifts has become more precarious, experts warn. While diversification remains a strategic goal, achieving a balanced trade footprint in Asia may be challenging in the near term, according to Brasilia University’s Professor Roberto Goulart.
The Japan visit also has strategic dimensions. Analysts suggest Tokyo may view stronger ties with Brasilia as a way to counterbalance Brazil’s deepening engagement with fellow BRICS members China and Russia.
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