During a conversation with Lula via videoconference on Monday (6), US President Donald Trump appointed the US Secretary of State to continue negotiations with Mauro Vieira
President Luiz Inácio da Silva informed, this Thursday (9), that the North American Secretary of State, , has already contacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, , to discuss the extra taxation on Brazilian products exported to the USA. Lula and the president spoke via videoconference on Monday (6) and, according to Lula, the negotiations are now moving into another phase.
“I confess that I was surprised by the result of the conversation, because it was something that seemed like it wouldn’t happen, it seemed impossible,” said Lula, remembering that they also spoke briefly behind the scenes of the United Nations General Assembly last month.
“He called me and in the phone call there was an expectation that there would be a lot of discussion. He called me in the kindest way that a human being can deal with another. I, treating him in a civilized way, and he treating me in a civilized way”, added Lula. The two presidents exchanged their telephone numbers to establish a direct line of communication and are also expected to meet in person soon.
“We are two 80-year-old gentlemen, we preside over the two largest democracies in the West and we need to convey cordiality and harmony to the rest of the world, not discord and fights. So, it was an extraordinary thing, I told him that it was necessary to remove taxes on Brazilian products, that he had been misinformed. So, now, another moment begins”, said Lula in an interview with Piatã Radioas well.
First conversations
Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to continue the negotiations. “Maybe we’ll start having conversations from now on and let’s see if we can get things sorted out, because we don’t want to fight with them,” said the president. “The United States is a 201-year-old alliance, it’s a very strong thing. So, we want to maintain a good, civilized, democratic, respectful relationship without giving up our concept of democracy and our sovereignty”, added Lula.
In a note released today, Itamaraty confirmed the conversation between Rubio and Vieira. The two are expected to meet soon, in Washington, “to continue the treatment of economic-commercial issues between the two countries, as defined by the presidents”. “The Secretary of State invited Minister Mauro Vieira to join the delegation, in order to allow a face-to-face meeting between them, to discuss the priority themes of the relationship between Brazil and the United States”, says the note.
*With information from Agência Brasil
Published by Nícolas Robert
