Is Trump Easing Trade Tensions with Brazil? After months of tension over steep trade tariffs, U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be softening his stance toward Brazil. In a 30-minute phone call on Monday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged Trump to lift the 40 percent additional tariffs the U.S. imposed on Brazilian imports earlier this year.
According to Lula’s office, the two leaders had a cordial exchange, swapping personal phone numbers to keep a direct line of communication open. Lula also renewed his invitation for Trump to attend the upcoming climate summit in Belém, signaling a possible thaw in relations.
The conversation follows a surprising friendly encounter between the two at the UN General Assembly in New York, where they shared a brief hug. Trump later said he had “excellent chemistry” with Lula, while the Brazilian president admitted he was “surprised” but pleased by Trump’s warmth.
Is Trump Easing Trade Tensions with Brazil?
The shift in tone comes after a turbulent few months. In July, Trump slapped 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian exports 40 percent specific to Brazil and 10 percent under a broader U.S. policy citing Brazil’s “mistreatment” of former President Jair Bolsonaro, recently sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to overturn the 2022 election.
Is Trump Easing Trade Tensions with Brazil? Despite a U.S. trade surplus with Brazil, Trump’s move was widely viewed as politically motivated, reflecting his personal loyalty to Bolsonaro, often dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics.”
Now, however, experts suggest Trump may be “smelling the coffee” both figuratively and literally as Brazil remains a key supplier of agricultural goods to the U.S. A formal meeting between the two leaders could take place later this month, potentially marking a reset in U.S.–Brazil relations.
