Lula Meets Trump at the White House to Recalibrate Brazil–U.S. Ties

Overview

• President Lula, who landed in Washington late Wednesday, holds a working meeting with President Trump at the White House on Thursday at noon Brasília time.
• Economic talks center on U.S. tariffs, the Section 301 trade investigation, and possible deals for critical minerals and rare earths.
• Pix, Brazil’s central bank–run instant payments system, is part of the U.S. probe, and Brasília argues it does not shut out American firms.
• Security cooperation comes as Trump’s new counterterror strategy signed Tuesday targets cartels and calls allies to a follow‑up meeting on Friday.
• U.S. officials are weighing terrorist designations for Brazil’s PCC and Comando Vermelho, a step Lula aims to head off over sovereignty and legal concerns.