Brazil and US Set Timeline for Renewed Tariff Negotiations Following Lula-Trump Meeting
After recent talks in Malaysia, Brazil and the US agree on a timeline for tariff negotiations aiming for a deal in the coming weeks, focusing purely on trade issues.
- • Brazil and the US agreed on a negotiation timeline after talks in Malaysia didn't result in tariff suspension.
- • Brazil plans a high-level delegation to meet US officials in Washington next week to accelerate talks.
- • Negotiations are now focused solely on trade, with political issues removed from discussions.
- • Optimism exists for reaching an agreement in the coming weeks, despite complex scheduling around the APEC summit.
Key details
Brazilian and US authorities agreed on a timeline for tariff negotiations after recent talks in Malaysia failed to secure an immediate suspension of US tariffs on Brazilian exports. On October 27, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira announced that both countries would enter a structured negotiation phase focusing exclusively on trade, with political issues set aside. The talks took place at the Ritz Carlton hotel with key Brazilian figures such as Vieira, MDIC Executive Secretary Márcio Elias Rosa, and Ambassador Audo Faleiro, along with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The Brazilian government aims to escalate negotiations to the highest level, planning a potential meeting in Washington next week expected to include Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, Vice President and Commerce Minister Geraldo Alckmin, and Vieira. This "shock troop" approach reflects Brazil's urgency to resolve the dispute, highlighted during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's recent one-hour discussion with US President Donald Trump.
Despite disappointment over the lack of immediate tariff cancellation — specifically a 50% surcharge on Brazilian exports — Brazil views the ongoing dialogue positively. Lula's team considers the tariff suspension a goodwill gesture from the US that could pave the way for broader agreements. The US delegation, however, faces scheduling complications due to the upcoming APEC summit in Seoul, where US officials will focus on significant talks with China.
Elias Rosa expressed optimism that a deal could be reached within weeks, emphasizing that negotiations are now strictly trade-related, a shift from earlier political entanglements. Furthermore, Brazil anticipates the cancellation of sanctions targeting its officials as part of the overall negotiation process.
President Trump's recent friendly remarks towards Lula during travel from Malaysia to Japan, acknowledging Lula's birthday and expressing hope for a deal, were welcomed by the Brazilian side as a positive sign for future cooperation.
Currently, the negotiations have not ventured into sector-specific tariff impacts or detailed bargaining points, maintaining a broad focus on reestablishing normal trade relations. Brazilian officials are concurrently preparing for COP30 in Belém, underscoring the country's multifaceted international engagement.
As discussions progress, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the US will ease tariffs and what comprehensive trade framework might emerge to strengthen bilateral economic ties.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
