Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked US President Donald Trump to eliminate a 40% tariff levied on Brazilian goods and reverse restrictive measures that Washington imposed on Brazilian authorities, the government of Brazil said Monday.
The request was made during a 30-minute phone call earlier in the day, which both sides described as cordial.
Lula and Trump spoke by phone, soon agreed to meet in person, and exchanged personal cell phone numbers to have a direct channel, announced Brasília.
Lula suggested a meeting to be held at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, and added that he was also willing to travel to the United States if necessary, the government said.
“Very Good” call focused on trade and economy
Speaking on social media after the call, Trump said their conversation was ‘very good’ and that they had discussed economic and trade relations between both nations.
We are going to have more conversations and see each other in the not-too-distant future, here in Brazil and the USA,” he said.
Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad called the call “constructive” and purposeful and later told reporters in Brasília the call was “positive,” while Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said the call was “better than expected.”
Alckmin said he was confident the discussions could lead to a strengthening of relations between the two biggest economies in the Americas.
Markets watch for signs of de-escalation
The potential thaw comes amid a particularly tense moment for Brazil’s trade outlook. Washington has slapped one of its highest tariff rates on Brazil.
At first, Brazil had to pay for a 10% import goods tax, but the tariff rate on some important exports was raised by Trump to 40%, giving a total levy of 50%.
The action unsettled Brazilian markets and set off new alarm bells for exporters already grappling with weak global demand.
At the time, Trump said it came in reaction to what he called a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro—his political ally—who later received a 27-year prison sentence for trying to orchestrate a coup to hang onto power in the 2022 election that saw him lose to Lula.
Sanctions deepen diplomatic rift
Under the Magnitsky Act, the Trump administration had also sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over Bolsonaro’s trial.
It also cancelled the visas of various senior officials, including that of Solicitor-General Jorge Messias.
The Brazilian government blasted the moves as unwarranted and politically motivated, escalating tensions between Washington and Brasilia.
Lula spoke on the matter during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, where, without naming him directly, he said there was “no justification for unilateral and arbitrary measures against the institutions and economy of Brazil.”
Many viewed his comments as an indication of a negative nod towards the US restrictions.
Renewed dialogue following the UN encounter
Monday’s chat followed a brief meeting between the two presidents at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.
Following that encounter, Trump stated that he intended to meet with Lula again and stressed their “excellent chemistry,” sparking hopes for a possible reset in bilateral relations.
Lula believes that lowering trade tensions with Washington will help investors and exporters regain confidence.
A pact may be a practical start toward healing frayed relations with one of Latin America’s greatest democracies, according to Trump, who has highlighted America’s economic leverage in foreign negotiations.
While no date has been scheduled for the forthcoming meeting, both sides have shown a readiness to continue conversations.
It is unclear whether such dialogue will result in the removal of the 40% tariff and a broader normalisation of relations.
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