Trump and Lula White House Talks: US-Brazil Relations Warm Up, Discuss Tariffs and Investment
US-Brazil relations, strained by former President Trump's previous tariff policies, showed signs of stabilization after a three-hour meeting between President Lula and Trump at the White House. They discussed tariffs, trade, security, critical minerals, and organized crime, with trade officials agreeing to continue talks on potential tariff removal.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 11:47
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 12:01 (14 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 00:43 (12h 41m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington, May 7, comprehensive foreign report) US-Brazil relations, strained by former President Trump's previous tariff policies, showed signs of stabilization today after Brazilian President Lula held a three-hour meeting with Trump at the White House.
The two leaders were originally scheduled to jointly take questions from the media in the Oval Office, but this did not happen, leading to speculation that Trump might have been displeased by the conviction of his ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, causing the talks to break down.
However, Lula (Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva) later told the media at the Brazilian embassy that it was his request not to allow media questions before the meeting; Lula emphasized that progress had been made in reshaping bilateral relations.
Lula said: "We have taken an important step in consolidating relations between Brazil and the United States. It is very important that the United States has regained its focus on Brazilian affairs."
Trump later praised Lula on social media as a "very energetic Brazilian President" and said the meeting was "very successful."
Reuters reported that the two leaders discussed issues such as tariffs, trade, security, critical minerals, and organized crime. US and Brazilian trade officials agreed to hold further consultations in the coming weeks to discuss what Brazil calls the possible removal of tariffs.
According to sources familiar with the situation in Brazil, the establishment of a working group allows Brazil to gain time on tariff issues, and Brazil is satisfied with the outcome of the talks.
Last year, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, one of the highest rates among all US imports, accusing Brazilian authorities of a "political witch hunt" against former President Bolsonaro; Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting to subvert Brazilian democracy.
Trump later withdrew most of the additional tariffs, including those on Brazilian beef and coffee, to help ease rising US prices. In February this year, the US Supreme Court, based on the National Emergency Act, overturned Trump's high tariffs imposed globally.
Brazilian products are still subject to an additional 10% tariff, which is due to expire in July. However, in recent weeks, there have been signs that the US might impose new tariffs on Brazilian products under Section 301, citing unfair trade practices.
The relationship between Trump and Lula began to warm up at the UN General Assembly last September, when Trump said he and Lula were "very compatible."
Lula said today that he proactively requested no media questions during the White House meeting because he wanted to talk with Trump alone first.
Lula also shared an anecdote with reporters, saying that during their steak lunch, he saw Trump pick out the orange slices from his salad.
He said: "The meeting lasted a bit long because both sides enjoyed it; otherwise, someone would have called it off long ago."
Lula also told Trump that Brazil is willing to share its rich mineral resources with interested investors.
The US Trade Representative's Office last month accused nearly half of Brazil's timber exports of coming from illegal channels, but the Lula government denied this claim, emphasizing that they have reduced Brazil's deforestation rate to a historic low. (Compiled by: Ji Jinling) 1150508
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(Central News Agency, Washington, May 7, comprehensive foreign report) US-Brazil relations, strained by former President Trump's previous tariff policies, showed signs of stabilization today after Brazilian President Lula held a three-hour meeting with Trump at the White House.
The two leaders were originally scheduled to jointly take questions from the media in the Oval Office, but this did not happen, leading to speculation that Trump might have been displeased by the conviction of his ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, causing the talks to break down.
However, Lula (Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva) later told the media at the Brazilian embassy that it was his request not to allow media questions before the meeting; Lula emphasized that progress had been made in reshaping bilateral relations.
Lula said: "We have taken an important step in consolidating relations between Brazil and the United States. It is very important that the United States has regained its focus on Brazilian affairs."
Trump later praised Lula on social media as a "very energetic Brazilian President" and said the meeting was "very successful."
Reuters reported that the two leaders discussed issues such as tariffs, trade, security, critical minerals, and organized crime. US and Brazilian trade officials agreed to hold further consultations in the coming weeks to discuss what Brazil calls the possible removal of tariffs.
According to sources familiar with the situation in Brazil, the establishment of a working group allows Brazil to gain time on tariff issues, and Brazil is satisfied with the outcome of the talks.
Last year, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, one of the highest rates among all US imports, accusing Brazilian authorities of a "political witch hunt" against former President Bolsonaro; Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting to subvert Brazilian democracy.
Trump later withdrew most of the additional tariffs, including those on Brazilian beef and coffee, to help ease rising US prices. In February this year, the US Supreme Court, based on the National Emergency Act, overturned Trump's high tariffs imposed globally.
Brazilian products are still subject to an additional 10% tariff, which is due to expire in July. However, in recent weeks, there have been signs that the US might impose new tariffs on Brazilian products under Section 301, citing unfair trade practices.
The relationship between Trump and Lula began to warm up at the UN General Assembly last September, when Trump said he and Lula were "very compatible."
Lula said today that he proactively requested no media questions during the White House meeting because he wanted to talk with Trump alone first.
Lula also shared an anecdote with reporters, saying that during their steak lunch, he saw Trump pick out the orange slices from his salad.
He said: "The meeting lasted a bit long because both sides enjoyed it; otherwise, someone would have called it off long ago."
Lula also told Trump that Brazil is willing to share its rich mineral resources with interested investors.
The US Trade Representative's Office last month accused nearly half of Brazil's timber exports of coming from illegal channels, but the Lula government denied this claim, emphasizing that they have reduced Brazil's deforestation rate to a historic low. (Compiled by: Ji Jinling) 1150508
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.