Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday a trade deal between Brazil and the United States could happen within days, possibly easing punitive tariffs after months of animosity.
"I'm convinced that in a few days we'll 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 US President Donald Trump at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Sunday, after this month urging the US leader to lift punitive 50-percent trade tariffs.
"The meeting I had with President Trump was surprisingly good," he said.
Lula added that "he (Trump assured me that we are going to 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 termed a "witch hunt" against his ally, far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.
In September, Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for his role in a botched coup bid after his 2022 election loss to Lula.
Trump again on Sunday told reporters he felt "very badly about what happened" to Bolsonaro.
"I've always thought he was a straight-shooter, but you know, he's going through a lot", Trump said.
Asked by a reporter whether Bolsonaro would form part of Trump's discussions with Lula, Trump replied: "None of your business."
'Surprisingly good'
Lula, who turned 80 on Monday, stressed that the issue about Bolsonaro had ended after his talks with Trump, saying the jailed politician "is part of the past of Brazilian politics."
Relations between Trump and Lula first began to thaw when the leaders had a brief meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.
They then spoke by phone on October 6.
On Monday, Lula said his meeting with Trump had been "surprisingly good".
"He (Trump) assured me that we are going to have an agreement," he said.
Brazilian officials on Monday added they were in a "much more positive scenario" than a few weeks ago.
"We are making spectacular progress," said Marcio Rosa, executive secretary for Brazil's foreign ministry.
Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said he and other officials had met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
"We agreed to work towards building a satisfactory agreement for both parties in the coming weeks," Viera said.
Lula is returning to Brazil on Tuesday, after visits to Indonesia and his first attendance at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, highlighting Brazil's growing partnership with the region.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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