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RIO DE JANEIRO — <\/span>Brazilian President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva<\/a> will discuss cooperation in the fight against organized crime and tariffs with U.S. President Donald Trump, Brazil\u2019s finance minister Dario Durigan said Wednesday, one day ahead of the scheduled meeting between the presidents.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is to protect Brazil\u2019s population, prioritize the country and maintain constructive dialogue,\u201d Durigan told state broadcaster EBC. \u201cExpectations for the trip are very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n The encounter at the White House follows a crisis in bilateral relations last year, after the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff<\/a> on Brazilian goods and tied the measure to the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro<\/a> for his involvement in a coup plot.<\/p>\n Lula sharply defended Brazil’s sovereignty and Trump later loosened<\/a> tariffs on Brazil<\/a> as part of his effort to lower consumer costs for Americans.<\/p>\n Trump and Lula started mending fences at the United Nations General Assembly in September, which was followed by their first private meeting in Malaysia in October and subsequent phone conversations.<\/p>\n The Brazilian government\u2019s handling of the 50% tariff likely raised the country’s leverage with the Trump administration, said Ana Garcia, an international relations professor at the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Trump administration likely sees Brazil as a partner that must be taken somewhat seriously, but will continue to pressure it to make concessions,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n An ongoing point of contention between the two governments is the Trump administration’s reported consideration of designating Brazil\u2019s largest criminal factions \u2014 Red Command, or CV, and the First Capital Command, or PCC \u2014 foreign terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n The designations would give the U.S. more power \u201cto act as a political or economic actor in Brazil,\u201d said Leonardo Paz Neves, an international relations professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think-tank and university. \u201cIt\u2019s a defensive issue for Brazil that doesn\u2019t serve Brazil\u2019s interests at all.\u201d<\/p>\n A Brazilian government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not allowed to discuss the matter publicly, said that both sides appeared to be committed to deepening cooperation on the fight against organized crime rather than opting for unilateral actions.<\/p>\n Another key item likely to be on the meeting\u2019s agenda is access to Brazil\u2019s rare earth deposits<\/a>. The South American country has the world\u2019s second-largest reserves of rare earth minerals, used in a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels and jet engines.<\/p>\n Durigan on Wednesday again reiterated Brazil\u2019s position that the nation does not want to be simply a raw material exporter.<\/p>\n \u201cCountries in the global north … are thirsty for this raw material.\u201d Durigan said. But \u201cwhile foreign investment is welcome, we want industrial development within Brazil: creating jobs in partnership with our universities.\u201d<\/p>\n The trip to the U.S. is taking place in a difficult domestic scenario for Lula, who last week suffered two blows dealt by Congress. The lower house overrode his veto<\/a> on a law seeking to reduce Bolsonaro\u2019s time in prison, while the Senate rejected his nomination<\/a> to the Supreme Court \u2014 a first in more than 100 years.<\/p>\n The 80-year-old leader will seek a fourth, nonconsecutive term<\/a> in the October elections. Polls currently show him neck to neck with Bolsonaro\u2019s Senator son, Fl\u00e1vio.<\/p>\n Lula departed for Washington D.C. early afternoon local time Wednesday, and is expected to arrive in the evening. <\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Follow AP\u2019s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/latin-america<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n