Brazilians’ negative views of US double, China sees sharp rise in positives: poll

Brazilians now view the United States more negatively than positively for the first time in two years, according to a new survey released on Tuesday, while perceptions of China have improved.

The shift follows US President Donald Trump raising tariffs on Brazilian exports and tightening visa rules, moves that unsettled a country long accustomed to close economic ties with Washington.

The Quaest poll found 48 per cent of Brazilians hold an unfavourable opinion of the US, double the level recorded in early 2024 (24 per cent), while 44 per cent said their view was positive. China moved in the opposite direction, with 49 per cent now seeing it favourably, up from 38 per cent last year, and 37 per cent expressing an unfavourable view.

But the findings underscored deep polarisation within Brazilian politics.

“It is interesting to notice that there’s a clear division of opinion about countries based on the ideological division of Brazilians. Voters more to the left maintain a highly positive image of China, while voters more to the right are the biggest supporters of the US,” Felipe Nunes, director and founder of Quaest, said on X.

Among supporters of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has sought closer ties with Beijing, nearly 7 in 10 expressed negative views of the US and 6 in 10 viewed China positively.