1. The fundamental or most important problems, concerns, or matters that need to be addressed
The negotiators focused on the core issues rather than getting distracted by minor details.
Os negociadores se concentraram nas questões centrais em vez de se distrairem com detalhes menores.
2. The essential or root causes of a problem or dispute
We need to identify the core issues before we can find a solution.
Precisamos identificar as questões centrais antes de encontrar uma solução.