President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met this Sunday (26) with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting lasted around 50 minutes and took place during the 47th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
During the meeting, Lula said that there is no reason for disagreements with the United States and asked Trump to immediately suspend tariffs on Brazilian exports while the two countries are negotiating. In July this year, Trump announced a 50% tariff on all Brazilian products that are exported to the United States. Subsequently, ministers from the Brazilian government and the Federal Supreme Court (STF) were also the target of the revocation of travel visas and other sanctions by the North American administration.
“Brazil is interested in having an extraordinary relationship with the United States. There is no reason for there to be any disagreement between Brazil and the United States, because we are sure that, when two presidents sit at a table, each one puts their point of view, each one puts their problems, the natural tendency is to move towards an agreement”, stated the president.
In addition to the presidents, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, and the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, also participated in the meeting.
Suspension of tariffs
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira spoke to the press after the meeting and said Trump authorized his team to begin negotiations to review the tariff on Sunday night, Malaysian local time, 11 hours ahead of Brazil.
“The meeting was very positive, the final result is great. President Trump declared that he will give instructions to his team to begin a process, a period of bilateral negotiation, which should begin today, because everything is supposed to be resolved in a short time”, stated the chancellor.
Admiration
According to Vieira, the presidents had a relaxed conversation and Trump said he admires Lula’s political trajectory.
“Trump declared that he admires the profile of President Lula’s political career, having already been president of the Republic twice, having been persecuted in Brazil, recovering, proving his innocence, presenting himself again and, victoriously, winning a third term”, he stated.
Visits
The Brazilian chancellor also confirmed Trump’s intention to come to Brazil. The date is not yet confirmed.
“President Lula also accepted and said that he will, with pleasure, go to the United States. Trump said that he admires Brazil and that he likes the Brazilian people immensely”, he commented.
