Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday that the United States government revoked the visa of his justice minister, a decision he called "irresponsible," amid a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

During a cabinet meeting in Brasilia, broadcast live, the leftist president expressed “solidarity” with his minister Ricardo Lewandowski, “in the face of the irresponsible gesture of the United States to revoke his visa.”

The Donald Trump administration has imposed punitive tariffs on Brazil, as well as withdrawn visas and imposed financial sanctions on senior officials in reaction to the trial for alleged coup against its ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022).

“These attitudes are unacceptable, not only against the minister but against all the justices of the Supreme Court, against any Brazilian personality,” Lula added.

At the meeting, which focused on the US tariffs, Lula and several of his ministers wore a blue cap with the slogan “Brazil belongs to the Brazilians.”

The judicial situation of Bolsonaro, who pleads not guilty, has sparked strong tensions between Brazil and the United States.

The prosecution accuses the far-right leader of having conspired with several close collaborators to remain in power. power after being defeated by Lula in the 2022 elections.

Lula reaches out to the private sector

Meanwhile, the Brazilian government spoke on Tuesday with representatives of the private sector from Brazil and the United States to seek a joint solution to the crisis triggered by the harsh sanctions imposed by the Donald Trump Administration.

The meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (FIESP), the most influential employers' association in the country, brought together authorities and business leaders from both countries amid serious diplomatic and commercial tensions.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira asked the businessmen, among whom were representatives of Boeing, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Salesforce, that they “raise awareness” in the Trump administration about the harm that the additional 50% tariffs imposed on a large portion of Brazilian imports will cause to everyone.

“It is of fundamental importance that Brazilian companies make their American partners aware of the seriousness of the situation and the need to seek to raise awareness in that country’s government,” Vieira said in his speech.