Lula advocates for multilateralism and the opening of new international markets at the UN

The opening of new trade markets for Brazilian companies, including small businesses, was one of the flags defended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during the opening of the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), in New York, United States, this Tuesday (23). The initiative is one of the pillars of Sebrae's work in recent months, in support of the Brazilian government.

At the UN General Assembly, President Lula began his speech by highlighting the attacks on Brazilian sovereignty, especially those perpetrated by the United States government when it imposed high tariffs on Brazilian products. "There is no justification for unilateral and arbitrary measures against our institutions and our economy," Lula emphasized.

Before the eyes of the world, Brazil sent a message to all aspiring autocrats and their supporters: our democracy and our sovereignty are non-negotiable. We will continue as an independent nation and a people free from any kind of tutelage.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil

"Few areas have regressed as much as the multilateral trading system. Unilateral measures render fundamental principles like the Most Favored Nation clause a dead letter. They disrupt value chains and plunge the global economy into a pernicious spiral of high prices and stagnation. It is urgent to refound the WTO on modern and flexible foundations," Lula stated. "The voice of the Global South must be heard," he continued.

Sebrae president Décio Lima recalls that Brazil has been acting with patriotism since the beginning of the tariff hike "Brazil is gigantic, with wealth, entrepreneurial people, and a global calling. We are acting with patriotism and courage. We have not been submissive and have shown the world our size. We are no longer a territory of subservience, of small people, a third-world country. We have opened new markets. Most importantly, we have not embraced a perverse wave of pessimism," he states.

The search for new markets for small businesses outside Brazil prompted a partnership between Sebrae, ApexBrasil, and the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA). Since July, when U.S. President Donald Trump signed the measure raising tariffs on domestic products, international missions and business rounds have been held, generating over R$19 million in sales and involving 238 small businesses.

Furthermore, Sebrae has prepared a special page on the topic that presents different actions to support micro and small businesses impacted by the North American measure, such as opportunities for events with business rounds and details of measures that benefit these entrepreneurs, such as the two-month tax deferral for companies under the Simples Nacional regime.

Brazil is huge, has wealth, entrepreneurial people and a global vocation.

Décio Lima, president of Sebrae

"Sebrae's goal is to help entrepreneurs access new opportunities, so we are working to present pathways, such as access to public procurement notices and how to work to reach local supermarkets," he added.

Sebrae has been working together with Apex in international business rounds, which generated more than R$19 million in the last quarter for micro and small businesses – a value consolidated to date with results recorded in just four rounds.

In total, 238 small businesses participated in these initiatives. Many of them export products directly or indirectly impacted by the U.S. government's tariff hike on Brazilian exports. They produce fruit, honey, machinery and equipment, cosmetics, fashion, and other sectors.

COP30

The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30, was also highlighted by President Lula during the opening of the UN General Assembly. He called on world leaders to be serious and committed to the planet.

"In Belém, the world will learn about the reality of the Amazon. Brazil has already halved deforestation in the region in the last two years. Eradicating it requires ensuring decent living conditions for its millions of inhabitants. Fostering sustainable development is the goal of the Rainforests Forever Fund, which Brazil intends to launch to reward countries that maintain their forests. The time has come to move from the negotiation phase to the implementation stage," he noted.