According to Brazil’s presidential office, the 80-minute conversation resulted in an agreement for representatives of both governments to resume talks aimed at resolving the trade dispute, Agência Brasil reported.
During what the Brazilian government described as a “friendly and cordial” conversation, Lula rejected the U.S. justifications for imposing new tariffs, calling them “unfounded.”
The recent trade barriers imposed by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative include an additional 25% tariff over alleged unfair practices and another 12.5% tariff linked to alleged shortcomings in efforts to combat forced labor.
The White House based the measures on a series of regulatory and political concerns involving issues including Brazil’s Pix instant payment system, anti-corruption efforts, the ethanol market and efforts to curb deforestation.
Lula argued that the trade restrictions lack a factual basis and cause direct economic harm to both countries.
The Brazilian president said diplomacy is the appropriate path forward and called for bilateral dialogue to remain open.
According to the statement, Trump was receptive to the need to preserve strategic trade ties and proposed that technical delegations from both governments resume meetings as soon as possible.
On security, Lula reiterated Brazil’s interest in cooperating with the United States in the fight against organized crime. He said criminal groups terrorize the country’s poorest communities on a daily basis but should not be confused with terrorist organizations.
Lula outlined progress in his government’s strategy to financially weaken criminal groups, citing seizures worth millions, and detailed the creation of maximum-security prisons.
Trump expressed willingness to deepen cooperation on border security and high-level intelligence sharing, according to the Brazilian government.
The two presidents concluded the call by discussing the need to pursue negotiated peace efforts to address the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
