Economy & Trade
Brazil tariffs: Lula says US talks are scheduled
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said US and Brazilian commerce officials have scheduled a meeting after he urged US President Donald Trump in a Friday phone call to resolve a tariff dispute between the countries.
Lula's office said he told Trump that the US tariffs were imposed on “baseless” grounds and “negatively affect both Brazil and the United States.” The Brazilian presidency said the call lasted one hour and 20 minutes and took place in a friendly and cordial tone.
During a campaign event in Minas Gerais, Lula said Trump asked US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to contact Brazilian Commerce Minister Marcio Elias Rosa “and they already scheduled a meeting.” Lula also said Trump acknowledged during their call that the tariffs on Brazil are “based on a lie.”
Washington imposed two new sets of tariffs on Brazil in July. One was a 25 percent tariff on a range of Brazilian goods over policies the United States argued harm US commerce, including deforestation and Brazil's free electronic payments system, PIX. Brazil was also affected by a separate global tariff regime against US trading partners accused of using forced labor.
Brazilian data show deforestation in the Amazon fell last year to its lowest point since 2016.
The dispute has become a campaign issue ahead of Brazil's October presidential election. Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth and final term and has made national sovereignty a central campaign theme.
Trump is an ally of Brazil's jailed far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro's son Flavio is Lula's main election rival.
Lula also objected in the call to the US designation of Brazil's two largest drug cartels as terrorist organizations. He told Trump that the groups “inflict daily terror on the most vulnerable populations” but are not the same as terrorist organizations.
Lula has repeatedly said he believes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, not Trump, was behind the tariffs against Brazil.
Update
Lula said Trump asked US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to contact Brazilian counterpart Marcio Elias Rosa and that they had scheduled a meeting.
Lula said Trump acknowledged during the call that the tariffs on Brazil were based on a lie.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 August 2026 at 02:45:22 UTC.
Update
The source adds that the United States imposed a 25 percent tariff on a range of Brazilian goods over policies it argued harm US commerce, including deforestation and the PIX payments system.
The source adds that Brazil was also affected by a separate global tariff regime against US trading partners accused of using forced labor.
The source adds that Lula told Trump Brazil's two largest drug cartels inflict daily terror but are not the same as terrorist organizations.
The source adds that the US designation of Brazil's two largest drug cartels as terrorist organizations came two days after a White House visit by Flavio Bolsonaro, who said it was a personal request.
The source adds that Lula has repeatedly said he believes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, not Trump, was behind the tariffs against Brazil.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 18:17:54 UTC.
Update
Brazil’s presidency said the call lasted one hour and 20 minutes and took place in a friendly and cordial tone.
Washington imposed two new rounds of tariffs on Brazil in July over alleged unfair trade practices.
The tariff dispute has become a key campaign issue ahead of Brazil’s October presidential election.
Lula is seeking a fourth and final term in office.
The source adds context on Trump’s alliance with jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro and says Bolsonaro’s son Flavio is Lula’s main rival in the election.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 17:12:38 UTC.
Update
Brazil's presidency said Lula told Trump that US tariffs were imposed on “baseless” grounds.
Brazil's presidency said Lula told Trump the tariffs negatively affect both Brazil and the United States.
Brazil's presidency said Lula told Trump that staying at the negotiating table was the best option for both countries.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 16:41:22 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The scheduled meeting's date, agenda and expected outcome were not specified.
Lula's statement that Trump acknowledged the tariffs were based on a lie is attributed to Lula.
Source
AFP news report published on .