Brazil's Lula visits Trump in Washington seeking to avert new US trade tariffs

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visits the White House on Thursday, aiming to revive what U.S. President Donald ​Trump last year called their "excellent chemistry, opens new tab," avoid new tariffs, and show a willingness to negotiate deals on critical minerals and organized crime, three people close ‌to the Brazilian president told Reuters.

“We don’t know if the visit will help,” one Brazilian official involved in arranging the meeting told Reuters. "But it’s more likely to help than doing nothing."

Last year, Trump hit Brazilian products with 50% tariffs, among the highest on any U.S. imports, accusing the country of promoting a witch-hunt against far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was later convicted for attempting to overthrow democracy.

Trump later withdrew most of the ​levies, including on Brazilian beef and coffee, at least in part to help calm rising U.S. grocery prices. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the global ​tariffs he imposed under a national emergencies law, eliminating many of the remaining levies.

Brazilian products still face an extra 10% tariff due ⁠to expire in July. But, in recent weeks, Brazil has seen signs that its exports could be hit with fresh tariffs connected to a Section 301 investigation into unfair trade practices.

Tensions ​remain over digital trade - as Brazil has blocked the U.S.-backed renewal of a World Trade Organization e-commerce tariff moratorium - and high Brazilian tariffs on some goods, including ethanol.