In a significant step towards reconciliation, President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva engaged in a call characterized by mutual positivity, as Brazil seeks to alleviate a burdensome 50% tariff imposed by the United States on its imports.
During the video chat, Lula urged Trump to reconsider the high duties, and Trump responded via social media, stating that their conversation was productive. This marked their first formal discussion since a brief meeting at the United Nations General Assembly last month.
Relations had been strained since Trump raised the tariffs in response to Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, facing legal challenges. In this recent dialogue, both leaders expressed a commitment to improving the tone of bilateral interactions, with Lula previously accusing Trump of foreign interference and authoritarian behavior.
The Brazilian government reported that during their half-hour conversation, they reminisced about the positive rapport they shared at the UN. Lula emphasized the need to restore amicable ties, pointing out that the U.S. historically has enjoyed a trade surplus with Brazil.
In addition to requesting a rollback of tariffs to 10%, Lula called for the lifting of sanctions on certain Brazilian officials. Their exchange led to the sharing of contact information to facilitate direct communication in the future. Trump noted on his platform the bilateral focus on economic discussions, announcing plans for further talks and potential meetings in Brazil and the United States.
Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin expressed optimism regarding the ongoing negotiations, indicating a positive trajectory in U.S.-Brazil relations. Lula invited Trump to the upcoming UN climate summit in Belém, Brazil, and proposed meetings during the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, highlighting a mutual interest in continued collaboration.
Furthermore, Trump has designated Secretary of State Marco Rubio to spearhead the negotiations with Brazilian officials, including the vice president and ministers of finance and foreign affairs. While the Brazilian side is evaluating Rubio's role, there is a preference for negotiators closely tied to presidential conversations, despite concerns over Rubio's ideological stance within the administration.
