Brazil’s president says he expects a “definitive solution” within the next few days over US tariffs raised over Bolsonaro’s imprisonment.
Published October 27, 2025
A trade deal between Brazil and the United States could be concluded within days, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has asserted.
Lula made the statement in Kuala Lumpur on Monday after meeting with US President Donald Trump. Lula has been pushing for a deal since the White House imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports in July, citing legal pressure on former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally.
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Lula said on Sunday that his meeting with President Trump, held on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, had been “surprisingly good” and that he had received assurances that a deal could be reached soon.
“He assured me that we would reach an agreement,” Lula told a news conference. “We are confident that a resolution will be reached within the next few days.”
Later, on his way to Japan, President Trump suggested a deal was likely following “great talks.”
“We’ll see what happens,” the US president told reporters. “They want to do business.”
A deal could avert punitive U.S. tariffs after months of rivalry between Lula and Trump, whose relations have cooled since an unscheduled meeting at the United Nations in New York earlier this month.
The Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian products in July. The decision was tied to what the US president described as a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro.
Lula said he presented Trump with a document outlining his arguments against the tariff hikes during their meeting in Malaysia.
The document acknowledges the United States has the right to invoke the measure, but Brazil’s president said the measure was based on “misinformation.”
Lula said Trump did not commit to halting the tariff hikes, but did not offer any conditions during the meeting.
“I am confident that within the next few days a definitive solution will be reached between the United States and Brazil and that life can continue well and happily,” he concluded.
“He assured me that an agreement would be reached,” Lula said through an interpreter.
In a separate interview with reporters, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said the talks were “very positive” and “very productive.”
“The meeting was very positive and the final outcome was excellent. President Trump said he would direct his team to begin a process that will be a period of bilateral negotiations,” Vieira added.
Lula has previously called the U.S. tariffs a “mistake,” citing the $410 billion U.S. trade surplus with Brazil over the past 15 years.
He also pointed out that far-right politician Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for an attempted coup after losing the 2022 presidential election, had been given a fair trial and that his case should not be considered in trade negotiations between the two countries.
“Bolsonaro is now part of the past in Brazilian history,” he said.
