Brazil is moving to deepen its engagement with BRICS partners in response to tariff threats from former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Celso Amorim, the country’s top international affairs adviser to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Amorim said Trump’s recent actions are pushing Brazil to diversify its global alliances. “These measures reinforce our commitment to BRICS,” he stated, adding, “Brazil wants to avoid over-reliance on any single country.”

Trump, who has criticized Brazilian leadership over the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, recently announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods set to take effect on August 1. The move marks a sharp escalation in trade tensions between the two countries and underscores Brazil’s shift toward multilateral economic partnerships.