Overview

• Lula said Marco Rubio phoned Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Wednesday to initiate conversations following the presidents’ call.
• Trump designated Rubio to lead the U.S. side on tariffs, and Brazilian diplomats expect him to act under the president’s directives rather than independently.
• Brazil seeks removal of the 40% add-on tariff, with ministerial contacts expected to ramp up to prepare a leaders’ meeting.
• Finance Minister Fernando Haddad plans to be in Washington next week for G20, World Bank and IMF meetings and will try to meet Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
• Brasília is prioritizing trade relief while U.S. visa and Magnitsky-style measures affecting Supreme Court justices are widely seen as a longer-term issue.