Trump tells Lula that the US “misses” Brazilian coffee after tariffs

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, spoke by telephone this Monday (6) and discussed the impact of the 50% tariff imposed by the American government on Brazilian products, especially coffee. According to the BBC News BrazilTrump admitted that the US is “missing” coffee from Brazil, the largest supplier of the product to the American market.

Since the adoption of the tariff, the price of coffee in the United States rose 3.6% in August — the biggest monthly increase in 14 years — and accumulated inflation of 20.9% in one year. The measure reduced the volume exported by Brazil to the USA in September by almost half and reduced the total value of sales by 31.5%, to US$ 113.8 million.

During the call, Lula asked for the tariff to be withdrawn and the sanctions imposed on Brazilian authorities to be reviewed. The conversation, described as “friendly” by Palácio do Planalto, lasted around 30 minutes. Both said they were interested in a face-to-face meeting “soon”.

Trump commented in a light tone that “at least the UN was useful for something”, when remembering the brief contact between the two in New York last month. On social media, the Republican claimed to have had “a great conversation” with Lula and said that the countries “will get along very well together”.