Trump says he had a “great meeting” with Lula and avoids detailing negotiations on tariffs

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that he had a “great meeting” with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), in a meeting held on Sunday (26). The statement was made on board Air Force One, during a conversation with journalists, according to the Metropolises. The two leaders discussed bilateral issues and the impact of tariffs imposed by Washington on Brazilian products.

Trump avoided anticipating possible results of the dialogue. “We had a great meeting. Let’s see what happens. I don’t know if anything will happen, but we’ll see. They would like to close a deal. Right now, they are paying, I think, 50% of the tariff. But we had a great meeting,” he said.

During the conversation, the North American president also congratulated Lula on his 80th birthday, which was completed this Monday (27). “I want to wish the president a happy birthday. Today is his birthday. He’s a very vigorous guy, actually, and I was very impressed. So, happy birthday,” he declared.

Lula: “Bolsonaro is the past”

Lula, who is participating in the 20th East Asia Summit in Malaysia, also commented on the meeting. The president said that the meeting took place in a positive tone and highlighted that he presented Trump with arguments about the trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), convicted of a coup attempt and accused of planning violent actions against authorities.

“I told him that it was a serious trial, with overwhelming evidence. He said the seriousness of what they tried to do, the plan to kill me, my deputy and minister Alexandre de Moraes. And that they had the right to defense that I didn’t have. He knows that a king is dead, a king is made. Bolsonaro is part of the past”, stated Lula.

Bilateral relationship will be resumed

Lula also indicated that the meeting represents the resumption of a continuous diplomatic relationship between the two countries. “The relationship between Brazil and the United States is established. Whoever imagined that there would not be [relação]it lost. There will be and will be a productive relationship for both countries and for democracy”, he said.

The Brazilian government seeks to reverse the 50% tariff increase on national exports, imposed by the United States in recent months. Technical negotiations involving ministers from the diplomatic, economic and commercial areas are expected to take place in Washington in the coming days.