US Brazil Begin Urgent Talks to Ease Trade Tariff Tensions

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump met on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur to address the recent escalation of U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods, which were raised from 10% to 50%. Both leaders agreed to immediate negotiations to resolve the trade dispute and sanctions against Brazilian officials, with Brazil requesting a suspension of tariffs during talks. Lula described the tariff hike as a mistake, highlighting the longstanding U.S. trade surplus with Brazil, while Trump expressed optimism about reaching mutually beneficial deals. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira confirmed the start of formal negotiations and indicated hopes for concluding talks within weeks. Additionally, Lula offered to mediate U.S. relations with Venezuela, emphasizing Latin America's commitment to peace and dialogue. The meetings marked a significant thaw in bilateral relations after months of tension linked to political issues involving former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.