Overview
- Brazil’s presidency said the leaders spoke in a friendly tone for about an hour to an hour and 20 minutes on Friday and discussed U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods.
- Lula pressed for expedited negotiations and Trump proposed that officials from both governments meet as soon as possible to resume technical talks.
- U.S. trade officials contacted Brazil after the call, with USTR Jamieson Greer seeking meetings and Brazil saying trade minister Márcio Elias Rosa may attend talks next week.
- The call also covered security cooperation, with Lula insisting Brazil will cooperate on organized crime but rejecting U.S. labels that equate criminal gangs with terrorist groups.
- The talks come after July tariff moves that added a 25% levy and forced-labor linked duties on many Brazilian products, a dispute that has political weight ahead of Brazil’s October election and could affect commodity exports and prices.