The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvasaid this Monday that a trade agreement between Brazil and the United States could be finalized in a matter of dayspossibly easing punitive tariffs after months of animosity.
“I am convinced that in a few days we will have a definitive solution, you know, between the United States and Brazil, so that life can continue well and happily.”Lula told reporters, on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian nations in Malaysia.
Lula met with the US president on Sunday donald trump in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), after urging the US leader this month to lift punitive 50% trade tariffs.
“The meeting I had with President Trump was surprisingly good,” he said. Lula added that “He (Trump) assured me that we will have an agreement”.
In addition to the tariffs, the United States also imposed sanctions against several Brazilian officials, including a top Supreme Court judge, to punish Brazil for what Trump called “witch hunt” against his ally, the former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.
When asked by a journalist on Sunday if Bolsonaro would be part of Trump’s talks with Lula, Trump responded: “It’s none of your business.”.
The presidents agreed Sunday to immediately begin negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement. The meeting lasted approximately 50 minutes and concluded with encouraging signs from both parties.
“I had an excellent meeting with President Trump this Sunday afternoon in Malaysia. We have spoken frankly and constructively about the bilateral trade and economic agenda“Lula explained in his account on the social network x.
“We have agreed that our teams are going to meet immediately to move forward in finding solutions for the tariffs and sanctions against the Brazilian authorities,” he added.
Trump appeared optimistic before the start of the meeting. “It is a great honor to be with the president of Brazil, a great country. I think we can achieve very good agreements for both countries. We have always had a good relationship and I think it will continue that way.“said the American president.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mauro Vieiradeclared after the meeting that Lula “reiterated the request to suspend the tariffs imposed on Brazilian exports during the negotiation period.”
Vieira described the balance of the meeting as “optimal” and highlighted that Trump “He declared that he would give instructions to his team to start a negotiation today, because he hopes that this will be resolved very quickly”.
The Brazilian foreign minister described the dialogue as “relaxed” and “very happy,” and revealed that “Trump affirmed that he admires the profile of President Lula’s political career and his two terms as president after being persecuted in Brazil and having proven his innocence to get a third term.”, in reference to the corruption cases for which the Brazilian leader was investigated.
The meeting occurred at a time of trade tension between both nations. During the meeting, Lula also asked Trump to suspend the application of the Magnitsky law against Judge Moraes, his wife and other Brazilian citizens. The legislation allows the US government to sanction individuals it considers linked to human rights violations or corruption.
Lula was accompanied at the meeting by Minister Vieira, Márcio Elias Rosa of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, and Audo Faleirodiplomat on the team of the special advisor to the presidency Celso Amorim.
On the American side, the Secretary of State was present Marco RubioSecretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and the Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
(With information from AFP)
