• Source:JND
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Lula-Trump Phone Call: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke with US President Donald Trump on Monday in what was described as a “friendly” 30-minute phone call. The discussion marked the first official engagement between the two leaders after months of strained ties over tariffs and sanctions targeting Brazilian products and officials.

During the call, Lula requested the removal of steep US tariffs on Brazilian exports, which currently stand at 50 per cent for several key products. He also urged the lifting of sanctions imposed against top Brazilian officials, including Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, citing them as a hindrance to normal diplomatic and trade relations.

“We are very optimistic that we will move toward a win-win situation in this relationship,” said Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who has been tasked with continuing negotiations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Both leaders exchanged personal phone numbers to establish direct communication channels for smoother diplomatic engagement.

President Lula also suggested a potential in-person meeting with Trump during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia later this month. He also extended an invitation for Trump to attend the COP-30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil, scheduled for November. The Brazilian President expressed readiness to travel to the United States if needed, signaling willingness to strengthen bilateral ties.

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Tariff Tensions Under Watch

Relations between Washington and Brasilia deteriorated following Lula’s criticism of the US response to Brazil’s judiciary and Trump’s support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The US had raised tariffs from a minimum of 10 per cent to 40 per cent on Brazilian goods and imposed sanctions on officials connected to Bolsonaro’s 2022 election disputes. Bolsonaro was later sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup to retain power after losing the elections to Lula.

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Trump also described the phone call as “very good” in a post on Truth Social, emphasising the focus on economic and trade cooperation. Lula recalled their brief encounter at the UN General Assembly last month, where Trump had highlighted their “excellent chemistry,” despite previous public disagreements over governance, multilateralism, and climate policies.

With inputs from agency.