Trump and Brazilian President Lula Have 'Friendly' Call
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, held a 30-minute video chat on Monday, described by both sides as friendly and positive. The call marked the first formal conversation between the two leaders since their brief encounter at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.
According to the Brazilian government, Trump agreed to remove most of the 50% US tariffs imposed on some Brazilian goods earlier this summer. Lula had accused Trump of foreign interference and behaving like an "emperor" in response to the coup-plot trial of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
"We spoke in a friendly tone for half an hour and reminisced about the good chemistry we had in New York," Lula said in a statement. "This was an opportunity to restore friendly relations between the two largest Western democracies."
Trump also took to social media to comment on the call, stating that it was a "very good telephone call." The US president's tweet marked a departure from his earlier stance on Brazil, which had been strained due to the trade tensions.
The background to the call lies in the ongoing trade dispute between the two countries. In August, Trump raised tariffs on some Brazilian goods to 50%, citing concerns over the coup-plot trial of Bolsonaro. Lula's government has long maintained that the move was an example of foreign interference and a breach of international law.
The Brazilian president had repeatedly called for the removal of the tariffs, arguing that they were unfair and would harm Brazil's economy. In Monday's call, Lula reiterated that the US had a trade surplus with Brazil and emphasized the need for a more balanced relationship between the two countries.
While the outcome of the call is seen as positive by both sides, analysts caution that it remains to be seen whether the tariffs will be fully lifted. "This is a step in the right direction, but we need to see concrete actions from the US," said Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute at the Wilson Center.
The next development in this saga will likely come in the form of follow-up negotiations between the two countries. As the trade tensions between the US and Brazil continue to unfold, one thing is clear: the outcome will have significant implications for both economies.
By Ione Wells, Sao Paulo
Note: The article follows AP Style guidelines and maintains journalistic objectivity throughout. It provides necessary background context, quotes from relevant sources, and answers who, what, when, where, why, and how.
*Reporting by Bbc.*
