Will Brazil and the US Resolve Trump's New Tariffs?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Formal meeting between Brazil and the US on tariffs.
- Economic arguments to be presented by Brazil.
- Previous discussions between Lula and Trump.
- Potential for improved trade relations.
- Impact of tariffs on bilateral ties.
Rio De Janeiro, Oct 16 (NationPress) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced that Brazil and the United States will convene for a formal bilateral discussion on Thursday regarding the new tariffs that Washington has placed on Brazilian goods.
This meeting, scheduled for Wednesday (local time), comes in the wake of a virtual dialogue earlier this month between Lula and US President Donald Trump.
“Tomorrow, we will engage in negotiation talks,” Lula stated during an event in Rio de Janeiro.
“Instead of chemistry, what emerged between us was petrochemistry,” he quipped, referencing Trump’s earlier remark about their “excellent chemistry” following a brief encounter at the UN General Assembly in September.
Finance Minister Fernando Haddad revealed that Brazil plans to present compelling economic arguments to overturn the 50% tariff that the United States has enforced on nearly 4,000 Brazilian products since August, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On October 9, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss strengthening economic relations between the two nations.
Both sides agreed that their government teams will soon meet in Washington — with a date yet to be specified — to address bilateral trade and economic matters, in alignment with the directives from President Lula and President Trump.
This call followed Monday’s conversation between Lula and Trump, during which the Brazilian leader advocated for the removal of US tariffs on Brazilian products and the lifting of sanctions affecting Brazilian officials, including visa revocations.
In August, Washington imposed an additional 50% tariff on a variety of Brazilian goods, a decision that has strained bilateral relations.
Rubio extended an invitation to Vieira to join the upcoming delegation to facilitate a face-to-face meeting.