‘We are optimistic for the conversation between Lula and Trump,’ says Alckmin

Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, said the meeting of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with US President Donald Trump this week was a first and important step to unlock trade negotiations between the two countries. He said the conversation between the two heads of state is not yet scheduled, but the Brazilian government is optimistic.

“This good signage of President Trump and President Lula was an important step. Now we have to take the other steps to reduce the rate and to remove more products from this 50%rate,” Alckmin said in an interview with host Datena on Rede TV. In the vice view, in the meeting of the two leaders in New York an identity was created. “There was a certain concern, right, from this meeting there in New York, the UN. But it was the opposite,” he said.

About the date for the meeting between Lula and Trump, Alckmin said this is a matter of days. “It’s not marked yet, but we’re optimistic.” The vice president said there is a “huge space” to advance non-tariff with the US, such as strategic minerals and data centers.

The deputy repeated that there is no “relationship” between the decision of the Supreme Court and regulatory policy, with increased import tax. “It has no sense,” he said. “We are talking about the two largest economies in the Americas and the two greatest democracies in the West,” he continued.

Alckmin recalled that, two weeks ago, an executive order of Trump zeroed Brazil’s tariff for pulp, iron and herbicide. “This gives 4% of Brazilian exports to the United States, $ 1.7 billion. I think gradually, step by step – and the first important step has been taken – it is possible to move forward. And Brazil is diversifying the market,” he continued, quoting recent trip to Mexico in this context.

He also referred to the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, saying that he helps in understanding with the US and is also a message to the world, in the midst of wars, that free trade and multilateralism are possible.

Finally, Alckmin praised Lula for the focus on dialogue and negotiation: “Lula has this ability and he is respected exactly for that, which is a natural intelligence from Lula and a natural ability of President Lula. In fact, that was his leadership in the union world. Fighting for workers, struggle, struggle and in the end makes an agreement. So that’s the way.”