Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House to address joint efforts against organized crime and trade tariff issues, according to Brazil’s Finance Minister Dario Durigan, who spoke Wednesday ahead of the scheduled talks.
“The goal is to protect Brazil’s population, prioritize the country and maintain constructive dialogue,” Durigan told state broadcaster EBC. “Expectations for the trip are very positive.”
The White House meeting comes after a diplomatic crisis between the nations last year when Trump’s administration levied a 50% tariff on Brazilian products, linking the trade measure to demands for prosecuting former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro over alleged coup plotting.
Lula vigorously defended his nation’s independence in response, prompting Trump to eventually reduce the tariffs as part of efforts to lower prices for American consumers.
The two leaders began repairing their relationship during the United Nations General Assembly in September, followed by their initial private discussion in Malaysia during October and additional telephone communications.
Brazil’s response to the 50% tariff situation likely strengthened the country’s negotiating position with Trump’s administration, according to Ana Garcia, who teaches international relations at the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
“The Trump administration likely sees Brazil as a partner that must be taken somewhat seriously, but will continue to pressure it to make concessions,” Garcia said.
A major source of tension involves the Trump administration’s reported plans to classify Brazil’s two largest criminal organizations — Red Command (CV) and the First Capital Command (PCC) — as foreign terrorist groups.
Such classifications would expand U.S. authority “to act as a political or economic actor in Brazil,” explained Leonardo Paz Neves, who teaches international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation think tank. “It’s a defensive issue for Brazil that doesn’t serve Brazil’s interests at all.”
A Brazilian government source, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on public discussion of the matter, indicated both nations seem committed to expanding collaborative efforts against organized crime instead of pursuing individual actions.
Access to Brazil’s rare earth mineral deposits represents another significant topic expected during the discussions. Brazil holds the world’s second-largest reserves of these minerals, which are essential for manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels and aircraft engines.
Durigan emphasized Wednesday that Brazil maintains its stance against serving merely as a supplier of unprocessed materials.
“Countries in the global north … are thirsty for this raw material,” Durigan said. But “while foreign investment is welcome, we want industrial development within Brazil: creating jobs in partnership with our universities.”
The Washington visit occurs during challenging domestic circumstances for Lula, who recently faced two congressional setbacks. The lower house overturned his veto of legislation aimed at reducing Bolsonaro’s potential prison sentence, while the Senate rejected his Supreme Court nominee — marking the first such rejection in over a century.
The 80-year-old president plans to seek a fourth non-consecutive term in October’s elections. Current polling shows him in a tight race with Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s senator son.
Lula departed for Washington D.C. Wednesday afternoon local time and was expected to arrive in the evening.
