Lula and Trump agree to continue talks on 37.5% tariffs on Brazil

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to continue negotiations regarding the 37.5% tariffs Washington imposed on Brazilian goods. The agreement came during a "cordial" one-hour and twenty-minute phone call, according to the Planalto presidential palace.

During the conversation, Lula rejected the U.S. government's justifications for the tariffs, which were announced following U.S. investigations alleging anti-competitive practices and imports linked to slave labor. The Brazilian government disputes these accusations. Both leaders committed to convening their teams to address trade, combatting organized crime, and the war in Ukraine.

Lula stressed that continuing negotiations is the "best option" for preserving bilateral relations, according to the Brazilian Presidency's version of events. Trump, in turn, agreed on the need to "preserve strong trade ties" and proposed organizing a meeting between diplomatic and economic delegations as soon as possible.

The leaders also discussed security cooperation, with Lula affirming Brazil's interest in coordinating efforts. He emphasized that Brazil possesses the necessary "instruments" to combat criminal factions without needing them to be classified as terrorist organizations, a reference to the White House's designation of Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC).

Internationally, both leaders agreed on the "urgency" of a "negotiated solution" for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Lula questioned the "inoperability" of the UN Security Council and suggested an extraordinary meeting to promote diplomatic avenues, stating that "great leaders are not those who start wars, but those who end them." This diplomatic engagement occurs amidst Brazilian electoral tensions, with Lula's government having previously accused Washington of attempting to influence the political process in favor of the opposition.

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urgencia