Brazilian president Lula says US trade deal 'guaranteed' after Trump talks

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has declared that a comprehensive trade agreement with the United States is "guaranteed" following his bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump during the ASEAN summit in Malaysia. Speaking at a Kuala Lumpur news conference on Monday, Lula expressed optimism that a deal would be finalized "faster than many people are thinking" despite Trump having made no specific promises during their discussion.

Diplomatic Breakthrough After Trade Tensions

The leaders' Sunday meeting represented a significant diplomatic thaw following months of trade friction marked by US imposition of 50% tariffs and sanctions against Brazilian officials connected to investigations involving Trump ally and former President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump characterized the discussions positively, stating "I think we should be able to make some pretty good deals for both countries" during the encounter that built upon an earlier October video conference between the two leaders.

Venezuela Diplomacy and BRICS Expansion

President Lula revealed he had raised Venezuela policy with Trump, positioning Brazil as a potential mediator by emphasizing its regional leadership position and capacity to assist with US-Venezuela relations. The Brazilian leader also committed to supporting Malaysia's bid for full BRICS membership during the multilateral summit, expanding the economic bloc's presence in Southeast Asia as the organization continues its global expansion efforts.

Immediate Next Steps for Trade Negotiations

In a social media statement following the meeting, Lula described the encounter as "great" and noted both leaders had agreed their negotiating teams would "meet immediately to advance in the search for solutions to the tariffs and sanctions against Brazilian authorities." The commitment to rapid technical discussions suggests both administrations aim to resolve outstanding trade disputes before broader agreement negotiations commence.