Washington, DC [US], November 14 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday held discussions with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on strengthening US–Brazil trade relations. Rubio and Vieira exchanged views on issues of mutual importance.
In a post on X, Rubio wrote, “Met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at the Department today. We discussed matters of mutual importance and a reciprocal framework for the US–Brazil trade relationship.”
Earlier, on October 27, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that a trade agreement between Brazil and the United States could be finalized within days, Al Jazeera reported. Lula made the remarks in Kuala Lumpur after meeting US President Donald Trump.
Lula has been pursuing a trade deal since the White House imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian exports in July, following legal pressure on Trump ally and former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Describing his meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit as “surprisingly good,” Lula said he received assurances that an agreement could be reached soon. “He guaranteed to me that we will reach an agreement,” Lula told reporters. “I am very confident that in a few days we will reach a solution.”
As he traveled to Japan, Trump also indicated that progress was likely after what he called “a great meeting,” Al Jazeera reported. “We’ll see what happens,” he said. “They’d like to do a deal.”
A successful agreement could help avert punitive US tariffs after months of tension between Lula and Trump, whose relationship has improved since an unscheduled meeting at the United Nations in New York earlier.
The Trump administration’s decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian products in July was linked to what Trump described as a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro.
Lula said he presented Trump with a document in Malaysia outlining Brazil’s objections to the tariff increase. While acknowledging the United States’ right to impose such measures, Lula said the decision was based on “mistaken information.” (ANI)
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