President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had a video call described by both leaders as positive. The discussion focused on Brazil’s request to reduce a 50% US tariff on certain imports. Lula urged Trump during the call to lower these tariffs, which had recently been raised in response to political tensions involving Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
This call marks their first formal conversation since a brief meeting at the United Nations General Assembly last month. In the past, relations had been strained, with Lula previously accusing Trump of interference and authoritarian behavior. However, the recent interaction was reported by the Brazilian government as amicable, lasting around half an hour, during which Lula aimed to restore better relations between Brazil and the United States.
Lula reiterated that the US holds a trade surplus with Brazil and requested that tariffs be reverted to their original rate of 10%. Additionally, he called for the removal of sanctions placed on specific Brazilian officials. The leaders exchanged contact information to facilitate direct communication moving forward.
Trump later expressed on his social media platform that their conversation primarily revolved around trade and economic relations, indicating a willingness for further discussions and future meetings, potentially in both Brazil and the United States. Lula invited Trump to an upcoming UN climate summit in Brazil and suggested meetings during an ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
In line with these discussions, Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lead negotiations with Brazilian officials, including the Vice President, Foreign Minister, and Finance Minister. A Brazilian government source noted that while Rubio’s appointment is under review, the administration prefers a negotiator who has direct access to Trump. Another source indicated that Lula’s government would have preferred a different negotiator than Rubio.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2ej0jpzx3yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss