Joesley Batista, Brazilian businessman and one of the controllers of JBS, the world's largest animal protein processor, met with US President Donald Trump on August 20 in the Oval Office of the White House, as revealed by The Wall Street Journal. The meeting was confidential and focused on the escalation of beef prices in the United States and the possibility of flexibilization of import tariffs.
During the meeting, Joesley presented Trump with a commercial solution to mitigate food inflation, which represents a political challenge for the American president among the population. The businessman explained that increased supply of beef from Brazil, the world's largest beef producer, could help reduce prices in the American market.
The lobbying shows the influence power of JBS's owners over Washington. The article also mentions that André Esteves, from BTG Pactual, had a meeting with Trump at a golf course, indicating that other Brazilian businessmen also maintain relations with the American government.
