Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s re-elected president, says in the text of his address to Southeast Asian leaders that big technology companies cannot override national sovereignty. The text of the address, dated Saturday 14 November 2026, was released in full for the 49th summit of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in Manila.
The text also criticised “unfair tariffs” and said Brazil will not allow mineral exploitation without added value. For US readers, it shows how Brazil is courting Asian buyers and investors on technology and trade.
Key Facts
—Who. Lula, Brazil’s re-elected president, addressing ASEAN, a Southeast Asian bloc of about 700 million people.
—What. Lula calls big tech power a “growing threat”; the text names no company.
—Trade. Lula said Brazil-ASEAN trade was US$38.4 billion in 2025, making the bloc Brazil’s fifth-largest partner.
—Minerals. Brazil says it holds the world’s second-largest critical minerals reserve and wants value added at home.
—Next. The Philippines announced a 60-day pork import suspension on 9 November; reports differ on the start date.
—Power Index. Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 74.2 points (November 2026 edition).
Lula’s address pairs an offer of trade and investment with a warning on big tech and a push for home-processed minerals.
What the Address Says About Big Tech
The text of Lula’s address says: “Excessive concentration of technological power is a growing threat to our societies.” It adds that “the designs of big technology companies cannot override the sovereignty of States and the rights of citizens.”
The text names no company and does not mention artificial intelligence. It then says Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are advancing the protection of minors online.
Lula said Brazil shares that concern and passed its Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA Digital), in force since March 2026. More coverage of the country is in our Brazil news section.
Tariffs, Trade and the Asian Offer
The text says: “Citizens of the Global South pay the price for unfair tariffs and irresponsible vetoes.” It adds that the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East “affect every corner of the globe”; the Global South means developing and emerging economies.
The text names no country, so it is not clear which tariffs he meant. It says the shock in energy and fertiliser prices “paralyses industries in Asia, worsens food insecurity in Africa and pressures the cost of living in Latin America.”
Lula said trade with ASEAN countries totalled US$38.4 billion in 2025, according to the text of his address. That makes the bloc Brazil’s fifth-largest trading partner and fifth-largest export destination, he said.
He asked to raise Brazil’s ties with ASEAN from a sectoral dialogue partnership to a “full Dialogue Partnership”, ASEAN’s formal partner status, covering high technology, biofuels, defence and food security. Brazil formally asked for the upgrade in January 2026.
Minerals, Forests and Pork
Brazil has “the second-largest reserve in the world” of critical minerals, the text says. Brazil is open to cooperation and investment, Lula said, “but we will not allow exploitation without adding value in national territory.”
The Philippines is already in the conversation, as our earlier report on Brazil offering minerals to the Philippines showed. Lula also promoted the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a forest-payment fund Brazil launched at the COP30 climate summit in Belém in November 2025.
He said Indonesia was the first country to put money into the fund and that five ASEAN countries now take part. Mercosur, the South American trade bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, has a trade deal with Singapore and is negotiating with Vietnam and Indonesia, he added.
The Philippines, a major buyer of Brazilian pork, announced earlier this month a 60-day suspension of pork and offal imports. Our pork import suspension report covers the move, and the start date is not confirmed.
In Plain English
ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a Southeast Asian bloc of about 700 million people. Brazil took part in the Manila summit as a guest.
Critical minerals are raw materials that high-technology industries depend on. Brazil says it holds the second-largest reserve in the world.
Why It Matters
Brazil courts Asian buyers and investors while saying minerals must add value at home and treating big tech as a sovereignty issue. Lula said trade with ASEAN countries totalled US$38.4 billion in 2025, the text of his address shows (14 November 2026).
What to Watch
No dated checkpoint is confirmed for the tariff, minerals or big-tech lines of the address. Reports give different start dates (22 or 24 November) for the Philippine pork suspension, so we could not confirm it.
What It Means for You
For a US reader with exposure to Brazil, the address signals that foreign investors in minerals will be asked to add value inside Brazil. The text gives no rates or rules, so it is a statement of direction rather than a policy change.
What Is Not Known
Press accounts differ on whether Lula delivered the address: one says he was hoarse and the text went to reporters. Another says he spoke third, after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, so whether he read it aloud is unclear.
It is also not confirmed which tariffs he meant, because the text names no country. We found no reaction from big-tech companies or the US government.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Lula say about big tech?
The text of his address calls the “excessive concentration of technological power” a growing threat to societies. It says big technology companies cannot override the sovereignty of States and the rights of citizens.
Did Lula name the United States over tariffs?
No, the text of his address names no country. It says citizens of the Global South pay the price for unfair tariffs and irresponsible vetoes.
What is Brazil’s position on critical minerals?
Lula said Brazil has the second-largest reserve in the world and is open to cooperation and investment. He added that Brazil will not allow exploitation without adding value in national territory.
How big is Brazil’s trade with ASEAN?
Lula said trade with ASEAN countries totalled US$38.4 billion in 2025. He said that makes the bloc Brazil’s fifth-largest trading partner.
Sources
Brazilian presidency, address to the ASEAN summit, 14 November 2026 · Government of Brazil, state visit to the Philippines, November 2026 · ASEAN, summit organiser
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. The Rio Times also runs Ask Rio Times, which answers from 100,000+ of our own articles, the daily Latin America Power Map, and prediction-market odds on elections and markets.. How we use AI · Report an error
Brazil runoff, Sunday, October 25: Brazil runoff date. Latest: Brazil runoff polls, Flávio 51%, Lula 49%.