Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a press convention on the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil January 30, 2025. REUTERS/Adriano Machado
Adriano Machado | Reuters
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva mentioned he had a constructive assembly on Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump, and their respective groups will begin “instantly” to debate tariffs and different issues.
Trump and Lula spoke on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in a gathering to beat tensions between Brazil and the US after Trump elevated tariffs on U.S. imports of most Brazilian items to 50% from 10% in August.
“We agreed that our groups will meet instantly to advance the seek for options to the tariffs and sanctions in opposition to Brazilian authorities,” Lula mentioned in a social media put up following the assembly.
Trump had linked the tariff transfer to what he known as a “witch hunt” in opposition to Jair Bolsonaro, the South American nation’s former president. The U.S. authorities additionally put sanctions on a variety of Brazilian officers, together with Supreme Courtroom Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the trial that led to Bolsonaro’s conviction for trying a coup.
Forward of the assembly on Sunday, although, Trump mentioned he might attain some agreements with Lula.
“I believe we must always be capable to make some fairly good offers for each international locations,” Trump mentioned.
Lula beforehand described the tariff hike as a “mistake,” citing a $410 billion U.S. commerce surplus with Brazil over 15 years.
Brazil’s Overseas Minister Mauro Vieira mentioned negotiations will begin instantly to work on options and a gathering with the U.S. delegation was deliberate for Sunday.
“We’ll set up a negotiation schedule and set up the sectors we’ll speak about in order that we are able to transfer ahead,” Vieira informed journalists on the summit, including that Brazil had requested that tariffs be suspended through the negotiation course of.
It was not instantly clear if the US agreed to the request.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer have been current on the assembly, Vieira mentioned.
“We hope to conclude bilateral negotiations that deal with every of the sectors of the present American (tariffs on) Brazil within the close to future, in a number of weeks,” Vieira added.
Bolsonaro was not talked about within the assembly, mentioned Marcio Rosa, the chief secretary for Brazil’s ministry of improvement, business and commerce, who stood subsequent to Vieira. Increased U.S. tariffs on Brazilian items have begun reshaping the worldwide beef commerce, pushing up costs in the US and inspiring triangulation by way of third international locations resembling Mexico, whereas Brazilian exports to its greatest beef market, China, are booming.
Brazilian beef business group Abiec mentioned it seen the assembly between the 2 leaders as a constructive step.
“The understanding between the 2 international locations can protect the competitiveness of the Brazilian product, assure predictability for exporters and increase the presence of (Brazilian) beef within the North American market,” it mentioned in a press release.
Globally, Brazil’s complete beef exports, together with contemporary and processed meat, edible offal and tallow, generated $1.92 billion in income in September, with volumes reaching 373,867 metric tons, up 49% in worth and 17% in quantity year-on-year.
Brazilian espresso business group ABIC mentioned it was assured within the historic partnership between the 2 international locations. Brazil is the world’s prime espresso producer and exporter, whereas the US is the most important importer.
“The current conferences between the presidents of the US and Brazil have been extra constructive, and at ABIC we’re optimistic,” ABIC president Pavel Cardoso mentioned in a press release.
