--- title: "Lula and Trump Discuss Tariffs in 80-Minute Call" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/lula-and-trump-discuss-tariffs-in-80-minute-call" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/lula-and-trump-discuss-tariffs-in-80-minute-call" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/lula-and-trump-discuss-tariffs-in-80-minute-call.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/lula-and-trump-discuss-tariffs-in-80-minute-call" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-21T18:05:16.419Z" source_reported: "2026-08-21T17:38:24.000Z" updated: "2026-08-21T18:05:16.419Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-21T18:00:31.367530+00:00" --- # Lula and Trump Discuss Tariffs in 80-Minute Call *Brazilian president stated US justifications for tariffs were unfounded; leaders agreed to resume trade talks.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to Brazil's government and Secom, with one full report. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is largely based on government statements, with limited independent verification. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines promise discussion of tariffs and conflicts, with the body detailing these topics. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Brazilian President Lula da Silva spoke with US President Donald Trump by phone on August 21, 2026. - The call lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes and covered trade tariffs, international conflicts, and organized crime. - Lula stated that the US justifications for imposing tariffs on Brazil were unfounded. - Trump agreed on the importance of strong commercial ties and proposed that teams from both countries meet again soon. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke by telephone with US President Donald Trump on August 21, 2026. The conversation, which lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes, addressed bilateral relations and global issues. According to the Brazilian government, the call was conducted in a "friendly and cordial tone". During the call, Lula stated that the justifications provided by the US for imposing tariffs on Brazilian products were unfounded. The US had imposed surcharges of 25% to 50% on Brazilian goods, citing alleged unfair trade practices. The Brazilian government also reported that Trump agreed with the need to preserve strong commercial ties and suggested that teams from both countries reconvene as soon as possible. The leaders also discussed international conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the issue of organized crime. The Brazilian government noted Lula's interest in cooperation with the US to combat organized crime, detailing Brazil's strategy to financially disrupt criminal organizations and its plans for maximum security prisons. Trump expressed willingness to reinforce bilateral cooperation in this area. ## Disagreement on tariff justifications While the Brazilian government, as reported by UOL, stated that Lula affirmed the US allegations motivating the tariffs were unfounded, Clarin reported that Lula categorically refuted Trump's arguments for imposing them. However, Clarin also noted that Planalto Palace described the dialogue as "friendly and cordial." ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific figures for the surcharges imposed by the US on Brazilian goods, which were reported as 25% to 50% by UOL. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 14% (1) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 57% (4) 13 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-21T18:00:31.367530+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-21T18:31:14.296Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from UOL, which is a full report, led with the phone call between Lula and Trump. It detailed Lula's assertion that the US justifications for tariffs were unfounded, quoting the government statement that the allegations were "unfounded." The report also highlighted Trump's agreement on preserving commercial ties and proposing new meetings. It extensively covered Lula's statements on combating organized crime, including Brazil's financial seizure of approximately 17 billion reais and plans for maximum security prisons. The report also mentioned the discussion of international conflicts, specifically the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from WTVB and El Periódico focused on the discussion of tariffs between Lula and Trump. WTVB stated that the leaders spoke by phone and discussed tariffs Washington recently imposed on Brazilian goods, according to Brazil's government. El Periódico's digest reported that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, and criticized the trade tariffs imposed recently on imports from Brazil. ### Right - The right-rated reports from Observador, The Straits Times, Clarin, and Globo highlighted the phone call between Lula and Trump and the discussion of tariffs. Observador's digest stated the presidents agreed to resume trade negotiations "as soon as possible" and that Lula classified Washington's justifications for Brazil's surcharges as "unfounded." The Straits Times and Globo digests reported that Lula and Trump discussed tariffs imposed on Brazilian goods. Clarin's digest mentioned "commercial tension" and that Lula called the tariff accusations "unsubstantiated," while also noting the call was "friendly and cordial." **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 7 - unknown: 13 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Observador](https://observador.pt/2026/08/21/lula-e-trump-falam-ao-telefone-durante-1h20-sobre-tarifas-conflitos-e-crime-organizado-brasilia-diz-que-tom-foi-amistoso) — Lula and Trump Talk on the Phone for 1h20 on Tariffs, Conflicts and Organized Crime — Brasília Says Tone Was "Friendly" - [EBC](https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/internacional/noticia/2026-08/lula-liga-para-trump-e-diz-que-alegacoes-para-tarifaco-sao-infundadas) — Lula Calls Trump and Says Charges Are Unfounded - [SIC Notícias](https://sicnoticias.pt/mundo/brasil/2026-08-21-lula-e-trump-conversam-sobre-tarifas-e-conflitos-internacionais-em-telefonema-de-80-minutos-cc0a1f7f) — Lula and Trump Talk About International Rates and Conflicts in 80-Minute Phone Call - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/lula-trump-discuss-tariffs-in-phone-call-brazil-says) — Lula, Trump discuss tariffs in phone call, Brazil says - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/08/21/lula-trump-discuss-tariffs-in-phone-call-brazil-says) — Lula, Trump discuss tariffs in phone call, Brazil says - [Noticias ao Minuto](https://noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/3039777/lula-telefona-a-trump-para-discutir-tarifas-e-crime-organizado) — Lula Calls Trump to Discuss Tariffs and Organized Crime - [La República](https://larepublica.co/globoeconomia/lula-y-trump-discuten-sobre-los-aranceles-en-una-conversacion-telefonica-segun-brasil-4463967) — Lula and Trump Discuss Tariffs in a Telephone Conversation, According to Brazil - [El Periódico](https://elperiodico.com/es/internacional/20260821/presidente-brasil-critica-ultimos-aranceles-133552696) — Brazil’s President Criticizes Last U.S. Tariffs During a Phone Call With Trump · Global Voices - [informacion.es](https://informacion.es/internacional/2026/08/21/presidente-brasil-critica-ultimos-aranceles-133552692.html) — Brazil’s President Criticizes Last U.S. Tariffs During a Phone Call With Trump · Global Voices - [lacronicabadajoz.com](https://lacronicabadajoz.com/internacional/2026/08/21/presidente-brasil-critica-ultimos-aranceles-133552710.html) — Brazil’s President Criticizes Last U.S. Tariffs During a Phone Call With Trump · Global Voices - [Gazeta Do Povo](https://gazetadopovo.com.br/economia/lula-liga-para-trump-e-contesta-argumentos-para-a-aplicacao-de-tarifas-comerciais-dos-eua) — Lula Calls Trump and Answers Arguments for Rates - [Clarin](https://clarin.com/mundo/llamada-80-minutos-tension-comercial-lula-hablo-trump-califico-infundadas-acusaciones-aranceles_0_aPX67ki7Bv.html) — An 80-Minute Call and Commercial Tension: Lula Spoke to Trump and Called the Tariff Accusations "Unsubstantiated" - [Revista Oeste](https://revistaoeste.com/politica/lula-contesta-tarifas-dos-eua-em-telefonema-com-trump) — Lula Contests US Phone Charges with Trump - [CNN Brasil](https://cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/planalto-diz-que-trump-concordou-com-nova-reuniao-para-discutir-tarifaco) — Planalto Says Trump Agrees with New Meeting to Discuss Tariff - [Globo](https://oglobo.globo.com/economia/noticia/2026/08/21/lula-e-trump-conversam-por-telefone.ghtml) — Lula Calls Trump and Defends Tariff Negotiation - [A TARDE](https://atarde.com.br/politica/lula-e-trump-concordam-em-retomar-negociacoes-sobre-tarifas-comerciais-1399326) — Lula and Trump Agree to Resume Trade Tariff Negotiations - [Metrópoles](https://metropoles.com/mundo/lula-liga-para-trump-que-propoe-retomada-de-negociacoes-sobre-tarifas) — Lula Calls for Trump, Who Proposes Resumption of Tariff Negotiations - [UOL](https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/monicabergamo/2026/08/lula-fala-com-trump-pelo-telefone.shtml) — Lula Talks to Trump by Phone - 21/08/2026 - Mônica Bergamo - [Folha de S.Paulo](https://redir.folha.com.br/redir/online/emcimadahora/rss091/*https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/monicabergamo/2026/08/lula-fala-com-trump-pelo-telefone.shtml) — Lula Talks to Trump by Phone - 21/08/2026 - Mônica Bergamo - [El Economista](https://eleconomista.com.mx/internacionales/lula-llama-trump-defender-dialogo-sobre-aranceles-eu-brasil-20260821-829523.html) — Lula Calls Trump to Defend the US Tariff Dialogue to Brazil ## Questions **When did Lula and Trump speak by phone?** Brazilian President Lula da Silva spoke with US President Donald Trump by phone on August 21, 2026. The call lasted for 1 hour and 20 minutes. **What did Lula say about the US tariffs?** According to the Brazilian government, Lula stated that the US justifications for imposing tariffs on Brazilian goods were unfounded. He argued that the measures negatively affected both Brazil and the United States. **What was the outcome of the call regarding trade?** Both leaders agreed on the need to preserve strong commercial ties. Trump proposed that teams from both countries meet again as soon as possible to resume trade negotiations. **What other topics were discussed?** In addition to trade tariffs, Lula and Trump discussed international conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the issue of organized crime. They agreed on the urgency of finding a negotiated solution for the conflict in Ukraine. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/lula-and-trump-discuss-tariffs-in-80-minute-call. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Lula and Trump Discuss Tariffs in 80-Minute Call", https://mediabias.news/politics/lula-and-trump-discuss-tariffs-in-80-minute-call