Brasilia, Brazil - Brazil has resumed talks with the US over the steep trade tariffs imposed by Washington, the government in Brasilia said Monday.
Washington in July imposed two new sets of tariffs on the Latin American giant, claiming unfair trade practices and use of forced labor, charging 25% on some goods and 12.5% on others.
Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth term in October elections, has accused the US of using the tariffs to interfere in the election campaign.
Lula is running against Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of Brazil's jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of President Donald Trump, and contends that the levies are attempt to sway voters to elect his Washington-allied opponent.
During a recent call with Trump, Lula said the grounds for the tariffs were "based on a lie."
In a follow-up call Monday with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Trade Minister Marcio Elias Rosa reiterated Brazil's objections to the "discriminatory " tariffs, while adding that Brasilia was ready to continue talks.
This is the second time in as many years that the US has imposed steep tariffs on Brazil.
Last year, it imposed 50% levies in retaliation for a trial that sent Bolsonaro to prison on charges of coup-plotting. Those tariffs were largely reversed later on.