Brazil’s Lula dials PM Modi as Trump slaps 50% tariff on both nations | India News
NEW DELHI: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva dialled PM Modi to discuss “imposition of unilateral tariffs”, exploring possibility of greater integration between the two countries. Backing India’s upcoming Brics presidency, Lula accepted Modi’s invitation to visit India early next year, according to a readout by his office.Both Brazil and India have been slapped with 50% tariffs by the US & Lula earlier this week, when asked about Trump’s remark that the Brazilian president was going to call him, had said he was going to dial Modi. While India has chosen to avoid any direct confrontation with Trump, Lula has taken him on, ruling out direct talks between him and the US president that he said would end in “humiliation”. Brazil, however, is still negotiating for a trade deal with the US like India.Lula said during the hour-long conversation that Brazil and India are the two countries most affected by tariffs and both leaders, according to a Brazilian statement, reaffirmed the importance of defending multilateralism and the need to address the challenges of the current situation.On his talks with Lula, Modi later said in a post on X that a strong, people-centric partnership between Global South nations benefits everyone.As a preparatory step for Lula’s visit, according to Brazil, the leaders agreed that Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin will travel to India next Oct for the Trade Monitoring Mechanism meeting. “The delegation will include Brazilian ministers and business people to discuss cooperation in trade, defence, energy, critical minerals, health, and digital inclusion,” said the Brazilian statement.A separate statement by India said the leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues and agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, tech, energy, defence, agriculture, health and people-to-people ties. Modi recalled his visit to Brazil last month during which the two agreed on a framework to strengthen ties in same areas.“Building on these discussions, they reiterated their commitment to take India-Brazil Strategic Partnership to new heights. The two leaders exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest. The two leaders agreed to remain in touch,” said the Indian statement.According to a Reuters report from Brasilia, Lula has said he is open to negotiating a trade deal with the US, but dismissed Trump’s complaints about the trial of his right-wing ally and former president Jair Bolsonaro as a threat to Brazilian sovereignty & judicial independence.
