Lula and Trump should talk by phone or video conferencing, says Chancellor

Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said on Tuesday (23) that the conversation between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) and US President Donald Trump should occur through a call or video conferencing. According to Vieira, a face -to -face meeting will not be possible due to the tight agenda of the Brazilian president.

“I hope President Lula and President Trump can talk. President Lula is always willing to dialogue with any head of state that is of interest to Brazil. This conversation can happen by telephone or video conferencing, because, unfortunately, the president is very busy and has a very full agenda, so may not be a personal meeting,” said Mauro Vieira in an interview with journalist Christiane Amanpour, CNN International.

The head of Itamaraty pointed out that Brazil is open to negotiating issues related to the 50% tariff about Brazilian products, but stressed that “sovereignty and independence of Brazilian powers” ​​are not under negotiation. “Brazil is a negotiation country and we are always ready to dialogue,” he said.

After Lula’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UN) on Tuesday, the two presidents agreed to talk next week. According to sources linked to the presidency, the greeting between them was mutual, but it would have been the US president who took the initiative to greet the head of the Brazilian executive.