Lula urges Trump to drop Brazil tariffs ahead of October election

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pressed Donald Trump to lift US tariffs during a Friday phone call, arguing the duties were imposed without justification and harm both nations.

Washington slapped two rounds of tariffs on Brazil in July, a decision that has emerged as a central campaign flashpoint ahead of the country's October presidential vote. Lula, who is running for a fourth and final term, told Trump the levies "negatively affect both Brazil and the United States".

Diplomatic appeal ahead of election

"To remain at the negotiating table is the best option for both countries," Lula said in a statement issued by his office.

The trade friction comes as ties between Trump and the leftist Lula have oscillated between cooperation and tension in recent months, with diplomatic strains intensifying as election day nears. Trump has thrown his weight behind multiple winning right-wing candidates across Latin America and remains a close ally of Brazil's imprisoned far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro's son Flavio is Lula's principal challenger in the October contest.

The tariff dispute injects economic pressure into an already volatile campaign, with Lula seeking to demonstrate he can protect Brazilian trade interests while navigating a complicated relationship with Washington.

Source: South China Morning Post