Brazil asks US to reverse tariffs as tensions ease

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (AFP) : Brazil's top diplomat appealed Thursday for the United States to reverse punitive tariffs but both sides spoke of a positive meeting after months of tension.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira met in Washington with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US trade representative Jamieson Greer.

The two countries in a joint statement released by the US State Department said the officials had "very positive talks regarding trade and ongoing bilateral issues" and that they sought to "establish a working path forward."

Vieira separately told reporters that the meeting was "very productive." Referring to tariffs, he said: "I reiterated the Brazilian position on the need to reverse the measures adopted by the US government since July, which will obviously require negotiation."

President Donald Trump has imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian products and slapped sanctions on a top Supreme Court judge, among others, as he seeks to punish Latin America's largest economy over the prosecution of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, his ideological ally.

Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison over a botched coup aimed at staying in power, which drew parallels to the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol by Trump supporters.

But Trump shifted gears after a brief encounter at the United Nations last month with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a veteran leftist.