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BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva asked U.S. President Donald Trump during a phone
conversation Monday to lift the 40% tariff imposed by the U.S.
government on Brazilian imports.
The leaders spoke for 30 minutes, exchanged phone numbers, and
Lula reiterated his invitation for Trump to attend the upcoming
climate summit in Belem, according to a statement from Lula’s
office.
Later, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had had a good
conversation with Lula. “We discussed many things, but it was
mostly focused on the Economy, and Trade, between our two
Countries,” Trump wrote, adding that the leaders "will be having
further discussions, and will get together in the not too
distant future, both in Brazil and the United States."
The Trump administration had imposed a 40% tariff on Brazilian
products in July on top of a 10% tariff imposed earlier. Lula
reminded Trump that Brazil was one of three G20 countries with
which the U.S. maintains a trade surplus.
The Trump administration justified the tariffs saying that
Brazil's policies and criminal prosecution of former President
Jair Bolsonaro constitute an economic emergency. Earlier this
month Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting a coup after losing
his bid for reelection in 2022 and a panel of the Supreme Court
sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison.
Lula also offered to travel to Washington to meet with Trump, to
continue the conversation they started when they met at the
United Nations General Assembly earlier this month.
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