Trump and Lula Engage in Friendly Talks Amidst Trade Tensions

Fri Oct 10 2025 13:59:40 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a recent video call described as positive, Donald Trump and Brazilian President Lula discussed trade tariffs and the future of their bilateral relations.

Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva engaged in a cordial video call, marking a positive shift in their relations following months of tension over tariffs. During the call, Lula requested the removal of a steep 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, while both leaders reminisced about their previous interactions. Lula invited Trump to upcoming international summits and expressed optimism about reviving cooperation between the United States and Brazil.

President Donald Trump and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have had a call described by both sides as friendly and positive as Brazil seeks to reduce a 50% US tariff on imports.

In Monday's video chat, Lula asked Trump to remove most of the duties. Trump said on social media they had a 'very good telephone call'.

It is the first time the two have spoken formally since they had a brief encounter at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.

Relations had been icy since Trump raised tariffs this summer to 50% on some Brazilian goods in response to the coup-plot trial of Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula had accused Trump of foreign interference and behaving like an 'emperor'. However, in Monday's call, the Brazilian government noted that the two leaders spoke in a 'friendly tone' for half an hour and 'reminisced about the good chemistry' they had shared in New York.

Lula described the meeting as an opportunity to 'restore' friendly relations between 'the two largest Western democracies' and reiterated that the US had a trade surplus with Brazil.

He requested that tariffs be reduced to their original 10%, and sanctions on some Brazilian officials be removed.

The two exchanged phone numbers to keep in touch directly. Trump commented on his Truth Social platform, saying, 'It [the call] was mostly focused on the economy, and trade, between our two countries.'

He added, 'We will be having further discussions and will get together in the not too distant future, both in Brazil and the United States.'

Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin described the call as 'better than expected' and expressed optimism about talks between the two countries.

Lula extended an invitation to Trump for next month's UN climate summit in Belém, Brazil, also suggesting potential meetings during the Asean summit in Malaysia.

Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to continue negotiations with Brazil's vice-president, foreign minister, and finance minister. However, sources within the Brazilian government indicated that they might have preferred a different negotiator over Rubio due to his closer ties to the Trump administration's ideological wing.