Lula Cites China's Rise in Brazil as US Investment Falls: 2026Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a press conference at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington on Thursday, May 7, 2026, following a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
During the conference, Lula stated he informed President Trump that the United States had stopped investing in Brazil, and that this space was subsequently occupied by China. He cited specific examples of international tenders for roads and railways where US companies do not participate, but Chinese companies do.
The Brazilian leader also discussed the broader issue of the US and Europe leaving Latin America aside, and highlighted the importance of the Mercosur-European Union agreement as a counterbalance.
The meeting and subsequent press conference underscore the shifting economic dynamics in Latin America, with China's growing influence in regional infrastructure projects becoming a key point of diplomatic discussion.