BRASILIA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira held a phone conversation on Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss strengthening economic ties between the two countries, Brazil's Foreign Ministry said.

Both sides agreed that government teams will meet soon in Washington -- at a date yet to be determined -- to follow up on bilateral trade and economic issues, in line with directives from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The call followed Monday's phone conversation between Lula and Trump, during which the Brazilian leader urged the removal of U.S. tariffs on Brazilian products and the lifting of sanctions, including visa revocations affecting Brazilian officials.

Washington imposed an additional 50 percent tariff on a range of Brazilian goods in August, a move that strained bilateral relations.

Rubio invited Vieira to join the upcoming delegation to facilitate an in-person meeting between them.

A possible face-to-face meeting between Lula and Trump was also mentioned by the U.S. president during last month's UN General Assembly in New York, where the two leaders briefly greeted each other and agreed to hold broader talks later. ■