The operation mobilizes police officers from the Integrated Forces for Combating Organized Crime (FICCOs) of the Public Security Ministry, operating jointly under the coordination of the Federal Police.
During the meeting, they discussed the next steps for the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, which entered into force on a provisional basis last week, creating one of the world’s largest free trade areas and significantly reducing tariffs on Brazilian exports to Europe.
The treaty’s implementation, however, is provisional by decision of the European Commission. In January, the European Parliament referred the text to the Court of Justice of the European Union for review, which will assess its compatibility with the bloc’s legal framework. The process could take up to two years.
“We hope that the Court of Justice’s decision and the subsequent approval or ratification by the European Parliament will be positive. I am confident that they will be,” stated Portuguese MEP Hélder Sousa Silva, chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Brazil.
In practice, tariff reductions lower the final price of products and increase competitiveness against international rivals. In total, more than 5,000 Brazilian products will already be subject to zero tariffs in this initial phase, including industrial goods, food products, and raw materials.
Among the nearly 3,000 products subject to zero tariffs from the outset, about 93 percent are industrial goods. This suggests that Brazilian industry is likely to be the main beneficiary in the short term.
During the meeting, Geraldo Alckmin said that the agreement with the European Union was drafted with balance in mind and includes safeguards for productive sectors.
“Multilateralism is important and benefits society, which gains access to higher-quality products at more affordable prices while also stimulating competitiveness. The agreement was very well drafted and includes safeguards. It’s a win-win,” he noted.
Last week, Brazil established so-called tariff quotas, which are maximum quantities of certain goods that can be imported or exported with reduced or even zero tariffs.
According to the Brazilian government, the quotas cover about 4 percent of total Brazilian exports and only 0.3 percent of imports.
In practice, these percentages indicate that most trade between Mercosur and the European Union will take place without quantity limits and with reduced or fully eliminated tariffs.
The trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union involves 31 countries, with a consumer base of 720 million people and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of over USD 22 trillion.
Last month, Brazil and the United States announced a cooperation agreement aimed at combating international arms and drug trafficking.
Other topics may arise during the working meeting, including geopolitics and the extraction of rare earths and critical minerals.
The meeting had been under discussion by the two presidents’ teams and was finalized a few days ago. Lula’s trip is initially intended solely for the meeting with Donald Trump.
The presidential delegation includes Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira; Justice and Public Security Minister Wellington César; Finance Minister Dario Durigan; Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Minister Márcio Elias Rosa; Mines and Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira; and Federal Police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues.
In an interview with the public media outlets of Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC), Finance Minister Dario Durigan said he expects the trip to the US to help normalize relations between the two countries despite opposition efforts to undermine them.
“My expectation is that we continue to normalize bilateral relations with the United States. We cannot allow outside forces, which even work against the country, to keep creating problems for the Brazilian people,” said Durigan.
The minister reiterated that, in the meeting with US officials, the Brazilian government will state that it will implement reciprocal measures should the United States impose tariffs on Brazil for political reasons.
He also said that the Brazilian government will reaffirm its willingness to continue cooperating in the fight against organized crime, as it has always done.
He had been hospitalized at the DF Star Hospital in Brasília since last Friday (May 1).
Jair Bolsonaro’s surgery was an arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff to treat injuries confirmed by imaging tests and a physical therapy report. The procedure was authorized by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, following a favorable opinion from Attorney General Paulo Gonet.
Bolsonaro, 71, has been under humanitarian house arrest since March 24, following a decision by Alexandre de Moraes after he was hospitalized for bacterial pneumonia. The former president was sentenced by the First Panel of the Supreme Court in September 2025 to 27 years and 3 months in prison for his leading role in the coup plot.
Recently, in an interview with the Italian broadcaster RAI, Zampolli said that Brazilian women “cause trouble for everyone” and referred to them as a “cursed race.” “They are programmed to do this,” said the US special representative for global partnerships.
The note also states that the Brazilian government reaffirms its commitment to promoting women’s rights and combating all forms of gender- and race-based violence, including misogyny.
Brazil’s First Lady Janja Lula da Silva also posted a statement on social media condemning Zampolli’s remarks. According to her, Zampolli has been accused by his ex-wife, Brazilian model Amanda Ungaro, of domestic violence and sexual and psychological abuse.
“Brazilian women, with great strength and courage, break the cycles of violence and silence every day. Saying that we are a ‘cursed race’ and ‘programmed to cause trouble’ does not diminish us. We know very well who we are, and we are very proud of who we become every day,” said the first lady.
Lula met for the first time with Portuguese President António José Seguro, who took office on March 9. After meeting the head of state at the National Palace of Belém, he had lunch with the head of government, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, at the São Bento Palace.
“We can replicate initiatives like those of Embraer here in Portugal. It is the most successful example of a Brazilian company helping to build things in the country,” he said, addressing the prime minister.
Trade
Bilateral trade between Brazil and Portugal totaled USD 4.5 billion in 2025. Brazil recorded a trade surplus of USD 2 billion.
In addition to the aerospace industry, Brazilian companies have investments in Portugal in the steel, machinery, and equipment sectors.
For its part, Portugal is a major supplier of oil and gas to Brazil and has investments in infrastructure and the electricity sector.
During the visit, the presence of the Brazilian community in Portugal was also discussed. The Portuguese prime minister noted that “Brazilians who come to Portugal - who now number more than 500,000 - have come to work, to pursue their goals, and have achieved a high level of social and economic integration.”
Montenegro acknowledged, however, that there have been incidents involving Brazilians in Portugal, adding that, in his view, these are isolated cases.
“This does not mean there have not been, here and there, isolated disturbances,” he stated.
The number of Brazilians in Portugal is about five times greater than that of Portuguese in Brazil - 104,000, according to the 2022 IBGE Census - making them the second-largest group of foreigners in Brazil.
Outside the Belém Palace, Brazilian and Portuguese protesters both for and against President Lula gathered throughout the day. According to Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP), the groups were kept apart by police barriers and tape, and no clashes were reported.
Lula’s visit to Portugal coincides with Tiradentes Day, April 21. The holiday honors the martyr of the Inconfidência Mineira - an 18th-century independence movement and a symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence in Brazil, a former Portuguese colony.
Lula’s trip to Lisbon followed visits to Spain on April 17 and 18 and to Germany on April 19 and 20. The president returned to Brazil on Tuesday (21).
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