Lula is optimistic there will be a U.S.-Brazil trade deal after meeting with Trump in Malaysia

Brazil’s leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed confidence on Monday that his country and the United States will reach a trade deal.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Brazil’s leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed confidence on Monday that his country and the United States will reach a trade deal. President Donald Trump also signaled that a deal is likely.

The statements came a day after the two presidents held talks on the sidelines of a regional summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, which Lula described as a “very good meeting.”

Trump, who headed to Japan from Malaysia, also said he and Lula “had a great meeting” on Sunday.

“We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo. “They’d like to do a deal.”

Earlier, Trump had said he could reduce tariffs on Brazil that he had enacted in a push for leniency for Brazil’s imprisoned former president, a Trump ally.