Sao Paulo, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on Saturday that he will defend Brazil’s digital payment platform, ‘Pix’, during his upcoming discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. This announcement comes amid an ongoing tariff dispute between Brazil and the United States, in which the U.S. has also criticized the Pix system.
Speaking at a political event in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo state, Lula confirmed he would raise the issue during a potential meeting with Trump at the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month. He stated, “I will meet Trump at the UN and tell him to try using Pix and understand how beneficial it is.”
Launched by Brazil’s central bank in November 2020, Pix allows users to make instant payments and transfers 24/7. It has quickly become one of the most popular payment methods in Brazil.
Lula’s remarks come at a time when trade tensions between Brazil and the U.S. are escalating. The U.S. has imposed additional tariffs of up to 25% on certain Brazilian products and has expressed concerns over Brazil’s digital payment system.
Earlier in August, Lula criticized the U.S. decision to revoke the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti. He labeled the move as “irresponsible and thoughtless.” In an interview with the YouTube channel ‘Meteorô Brasil’, he emphasized that such a decision was unwarranted, given the two countries’ diplomatic relations spanning over 200 years. He also indicated that Brazil would not accept a new ambassador before the general elections in October.
The U.S. State Department announced the visa revocation on Tuesday, stating it was a response to Brazil’s refusal to grant visas to two U.S. officials last month and the alleged delay in approving President Trump’s nominee, Daniel Perez, for the ambassadorial position in Brazil.
In response, Lula pointed out that the U.S. has not shown urgency regarding its diplomatic presence in Brazil, noting that the U.S. embassy operated without a major representative for over a year.
This ongoing friction reflects the complexities of trade and diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States, despite their historical ties that date back over two centuries.
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