U.S. President George W. Bush, fresh from the Summit of the Americas, was sitting down Sunday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for a meeting that may have an even greater impact on his relationship with Latin America. Brazil _ the largest nation in Latin America and fifth largest in the world _ has immense influence on its neighbors, and its large population represents a lucrative market for U.S. products that Bush would like to expand, The Associated Press reported. "Brazil is an absolutely critical player in the hemisphere," said Michael Shifter, vice president for policy at the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington. "There is a limit to how much progress the U.S. can make on any issue, free trade included, without Brazil's support and cooperation." Bush says more trade between the United States, Brazil and other nations in the Western Hemisphere would help create jobs, spread democratic values and lift people out of poverty. Other issues on the agenda for Bush and Silva's meeting include the fight against drug trafficking, Brazil's leading role in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Haiti and Brazil's relationship with its neighbors in South America.
