Reset in US-Brazil ties? Lula says Trump ‘assured’ him of trade deal; speaks out on Bolsonaro
Brazilian President Lula da Silva on Monday said US President Donald Trump had “assured” him that a trade deal between the two nations was close, signalling a possible reset in strained ties.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Malaysia, Lula said their meeting was “surprisingly good” and that both sides were working to resolve ongoing tariff and sanctions disputes, including US measures targeting several Brazilian officials and a top Supreme Court judge.
“The meeting I had with President Trump was surprisingly good. I’m convinced that in a few days we’ll have a definitive solution between the United States and Brazil, so that life can continue well and happily. He assured me that we are going to have an agreement,” Lula told reporters.The remarks came a day after Trump and Lula met on Sunday on the sidelines of the summit, where both leaders discussed ways to end months of trade tensions. The United States recently imposed tariffs of at least 50% on several Brazilian goods and sanctioned multiple officials over what Trump described as a “witch hunt” against his ally and former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.When asked by a reporter whether Bolsonaro was part of his talks with Lula, Trump curtly replied, “None of your business.”Following the meeting, Lula said both sides agreed to hold immediate discussions to find solutions to the trade and sanctions issues. Trump, for his part, expressed optimism that both countries could strike “some pretty good deals.”“It’s a great honor to be with the President of Brazil… I think we should be able to make some pretty good deals for both countries,” Trump said, according to a statement shared by the White House on X.Lula later said that both sides agreed to hold immediate discussions to find solutions to the tariff and sanctions issues.As part of his visit to Malaysia, Trump also announced several regional initiatives, including reciprocal trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia and a framework deal with Thailand and Vietnam.He and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also oversaw the signing of a peace accord between Cambodia and Thailand, which Trump described as “an important step toward regional stability.”“Alongside this peace treaty, we are also signing a major trade deal with Cambodia and a very important critical minerals agreement with Thailand,” Trump said.He also thanked the regional leaders for what he called “collaboration and commitment toward balanced trade relations.”Under the new framework with Thailand, the United States will maintain a 19% tariff on Thai products but may adjust or remove duties on certain goods in the future.According to a joint statement issued by White House, in return, Thailand will eliminate tariff barriers on about 99% of US industrial and agricultural products.
