President Donald Trump and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, described their recent call as friendly and positive as Brazil seeks to reduce a 50% US tariff on imports.
During their video chat, Lula requested Trump to consider eliminating most of the tariffs, while Trump remarked on social media about the very good telephone call they had.
This interaction marks the first formal communication since their brief encounter at the United Nations General Assembly last month, where relations had been tense since Trump raised tariffs this summer in response to the trial of Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
During the call, the tone was reportedly amicable, with the leaders reminiscing about their good rapport in New York. Lula highlighted the importance of restoring friendly relations between what he called “the two largest Western democracies” and mentioned that the US currently enjoys a trade surplus with Brazil.
He advocated for lowering the tariffs back to the original 10% and lifting sanctions on certain Brazilian officials. Trump echoed this sentiment, noting discussions about the economy and trade between their nations would continue.
Lula extended an invitation to Trump for an upcoming UN climate summit in Brazil and illustrated his willingness to meet during the ASEAN summit in Malaysia or travel to the US directly.
In response to ongoing negotiations, Trump has designated Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the main negotiator with Brazil, although some within Lula's government expressed concerns regarding Rubio's stance within the Trump administration.
The recent dialogue is seen as a vital step towards easing trade tensions and improving bilateral relations, and both leaders appear committed to fostering this relationship moving forward.
