• Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has directly appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to eliminate the 40% tariff the U.S. imposed earlier this year on Brazilian exports, calling the measure “political” and “irrational” during a 30-minute phone call.
• Lula expressed willingness to meet Trump in Washington and extended an invitation for him to attend COP30, the major climate summit to be hosted in Brazil.
• The conversation marks a potential turning point in strained bilateral relations, with Brazil seeking to restore trade normalcy and avoid retaliatory actions.
• A reversal of the tariff could provide relief to industries on both sides — particularly in agriculture, energy, and raw materials — and may set the stage for broader negotiations.