Brazil President Lula Meets Trump at White House to Discuss Tariffs Organized Crime and Rare Earth Minerals
Trump hosted Lula at the White House on May 7 to discuss tariffs, cooperation against organized crime, and access to Brazil's rare earth deposits, per NBC News and ABC News/AP. Trump posted on Truth Social afterward that talks "went very well" and that representatives would convene on "certain key elements," with additional meetings planned over coming months. Brazilian Finance Minister Dario Durigan told state broadcaster EBC ahead of the visit that the goal was "constructive dialogue," while ABC News/AP reported that U.S. consideration of designating Brazil's
The absence of a joint press conference, signed document, or Oval Office press access, corroborated across three outlets, marks the meeting as a position exchange rather than a resolution. Washington's ongoing deliberation over designating Red Command and First Capital Command as foreign terrorist organizations preserves coercive leverage Brasília cannot ignore in counternarcotics negotiations. The commitment to reconvene "over coming months" rather than on a fixed date deliberately diffuses accountability for both sides. Rare earth access may be Washington's primary objective, with tariff relief and counternarcotics cooperation offered as diplomatic inducements rather than co-equal priorities. A bilateral agreement on tariffs or organized crime within 14 days of May 7 is
4 sources
- Brazil Lula to discuss fighting organized crime tariffs in Trump meeting -
Washington Post - Brazil's Lula meets Trump amid efforts to avert new US trade tariffs -
Al Jazeera - Trump administration live updates: Trump met with Brazil's president at White House -
NBC News - Brazil's Lula to discuss fighting organized crime, tariffs in Trump meeting -
ABC News (AP)