He did it for Mark Carney in Canada. He did it for Anthony Albanese in Australia. Did Donald Trump just secure re-election for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil?

The ministers met in Brussels following President Trump’s announcement of such hefty tariffs, which could have repercussions for governments, companies, and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The bloc’s trade commissioner says two sides were close to a deal before the president last week threatened to impose a 30 percent levy.