Sitting down while in New York for the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, President Joe Biden and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sought to emphasize their shared goal of strengthening worker’s rights in the face of notable differences between the leaders. 

“The two largest democracies in the Western Hemisphere are standing up for human rights around the world and in the hemisphere. That includes workers’ rights,” Biden told Lula during brief remarks at the top of their meeting. 

What You Need To Know

  • President Joe Biden and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, seeking to emphasize human rights and workers' rights 

  • The two leaders launched an initiative on workers' rights on Wednesday, seeking to end worker exploitation and fight discrimination 

  • Lula said he had never heard an American president speak so highly of workers, and described their common cause as a chance to transform ties between the countries

  • Biden and Lula have also found themselves at odds over several notable issues, including the U.S.’ continued aid to Ukraine

As part of that effort, Biden and Lula announced a new labor partnership at a separate joint event on Wednesday with the goals of ending worker exploitation, increasing accountability in investments and fighting against discrimination in the workplace.

“I believe the relationship between the U.S. and Brazil will be improved and we can behave as friends seeking a common objective – development and improving the lives of everyone,” Lula told Biden. 

Both leaders shared personal stories of what labor means to them – with Biden recounting his frequently-mentioned story of his father telling him a job is about “dignity” and “self-respect.” Lula spoke about working in a plant for 27 years. 

For Biden – who once again called his administration “the most pro-union administration in American history” – the new effort comes as he is navigating strikes in the U.S. by autoworkers, screenwriters and actors who are seeking better pay and protections in a changing global economy.

The U.S. president emphasized his economic vision of growing the economy from the middle-out and bottom-up, telling Lula that “when the middle does well, everybody does well” and making two separate comments on the wealthy paying taxes. 

Lula said he had never heard an American president speak so highly of workers, and described their common cause as a chance to transform ties between the countries.

“This meeting here, for me, is more than a bilateral meeting; it is the rebirth of a new era in the relationship between the U.S. and Brazil. It is a relationship of equals,” Lula said. 

On a call with reporters to preview the new workers initiative, an administration official said the U.S. and Brazil will work on a “plan to implement” the shared goals of advancing the rights of working families. The official added they ultimately hope to expand this partnership to “other governments and stakeholders.” 

Biden had frosty relations with Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, an open admirer of Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald Trump. 

But Biden and Lula have also found themselves at odds over several notable issues, including the U.S.’ continued aid to Ukraine. In his speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Lula criticized the U.S. embargo and sanctions targeting Cuba.

Also on their agenda was environmental preservation. Lula has presented himself as a leader on this front, and his administration has made significant progress in the Amazon.

Deforestation of the Amazon had soared to a 15-year high under Bolsonaro, who called for the development of the rainforest, emboldening loggers and miners to invade protected areas, while defanging environmental authorities. Lula began rebuilding those agencies, created eight protected areas for Indigenous people, and expelled thousands of miners from the massive Yanomami Indigenous territory. Deforestation dropped by nearly half in his first eight months.

He has sought international contributions for Brazil’s Amazon Fund, but donations have been small and symbolic. In February, the U.S. committed to a $50 million donation to the initiative, though it has yet to be provided. Biden later announced he would ask Congress for an additional $500 million, which has yet to be committed.

Biden’s events with Lula rounded out a packed two-days for the president at the U.N. General Assembly, including a highly-anticipated meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Wednesday. Biden is set to met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy back at the White House on Thursday. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.