Lula says White House talks with Trump helped ease tariff tensions

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday that three hours of White House talks with US President Donald Trump had helped to stabilise Brazil–US relations that have been strained over Trump’s tariff policy.

The two leaders had been scheduled to take questions from reporters together in the Oval Office but did not appear, prompting speculation of a breakdown in talks amid Trump’s anger over Brazil’s prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

But Lula, speaking to reporters at the Brazilian embassy after a beef fillet lunch with Trump at the White House, said he had asked for no press conference ahead of the meeting and reported progress in resetting ties.

"We took an important step in consolidating the Brazil–United States relationship," Lula said. "It is important that the United States regain an interest in things happening in Brazil."

Trump praised the "very dynamic president of Brazil" in a social media post that said the meeting with Lula had gone "very well."

The two leaders discussed tariffs, trade, security, critical minerals and organised crime. US and Brazilian trade officials agreed to talk in coming weeks to discuss what the Brazilian side described as an end to tariffs. Brazilian officials were happy with the outcome because establishment of the working group bought them some time on the issue of tariffs, a source familiar with the Brazilian side said.

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Last year, Trump hit Brazilian products with 50% tariffs, among the highest on any US imports, accusing the country of promoting a witch hunt against Bolsonaro, who was later convicted for attempting to overthrow democracy.

Trump later withdrew most of the levies, including on Brazilian beef and coffee, at least in part to help calm rising US grocery prices. In February, the US Supreme Court struck down the global tariffs he imposed under a national emergencies law, eliminating many of the remaining levies. Brazilian products still face an extra 10% tariff due to expire in July. But in recent weeks, Brazil has seen signs that its exports could be hit with fresh tariffs connected to a Section 301 investigation into unfair trade practices.

A meeting of two populist leaders

The meeting between Lula and Trump brought together two of the world’s most prominent populist figures despite their sharp ideological differences. Both leaders have built loyal political followings by positioning themselves against established elites, although they differ markedly on issues ranging from economic policy to international alliances.

Lula and Trump have also both staged remarkable political comebacks. Lula was jailed for graft in 2018, but his convictions were overturned in 2019, clearing the way for his return to the presidency in 2023. Trump, after losing the 2020 election, ran again in 2024, reasserting his hold on the Republican Party even as he faced multiple criminal charges.

Read moreBrazil Congress overrides Lula veto to reduce Bolsonaro prison sentence

A thaw between the two leaders started last September at the UN General Assembly when Trump said he and Lula have "excellent chemistry".

On Thursday, Lula said he had requested no press in the Oval Office because he wanted to meet with Trump first. Lula also shared some behind-the-scenes details of the visit, saying Trump picked the orange slices out of his salad during lunch.

"The meeting took a little too long, certainly because I liked it and he liked the meeting. Otherwise, someone would have ended it," he said.

The Brazilian president said he discussed Trump’s pressure campaign on Cuba, adding that Trump told him he has no plans for an invasion. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lula also said he told Trump that Brazil was willing to share its mineral wealth with whoever wanted to invest in the country. Tensions remain over digital trade – as Brazil has blocked the US-backed renewal of a World Trade Organization e-commerce tariff moratorium – and high Brazilian tariffs on some goods, including ethanol.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)