Lula Optimistic About US-Brazil Deal   10/27 06:20

   Brazil's leader Luiz Incio Lula da Silva expressed confidence on Monday 
that his country and the United States will reach a trade deal. U.S. President 
Donald Trump also signaled that a deal is likely.

   KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Brazil's leader Luiz Incio Lula da Silva 
expressed confidence on Monday that his country and the United States will 
reach a trade deal. U.S. 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.

   "I think we should be able to make some good deals for both countries," 
Trump had said after meeting Lula.

   According to Lula, he presented Trump with a written document outlining 
arguments against the U.S. tariff hikes that Lula said acknowledged the United 
States has the right to impose the measures, its move was based on "mistaken 
information."

   Trump didn't commit to suspending the tariff hikes, nor raised any 
conditions during their talks, Lula said.

   "He guaranteed to me that we will reach an agreement," Lula told a news 
conference, speaking through an interpreter. "I am very confident that in a few 
days we will reach a solution."

   The Trump administration imposed a 40% tariff on Brazilian products in July 
on top of a 10% tariff hike earlier. The U.S. justified the tariffs saying that 
Brazil's policies and criminal prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro 
constitute an economic emergency.

   Bolsonaro was recently convicted of attempting a coup after losing his bid 
for reelection in 2022 and a panel of Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced him to 
about 27 years in prison.

   Lula said he again reminded Trump that Brazil was one of three Group of 20 
industrialized and emerging-market nations countries with which the U.S. 
maintains a trade surplus. The U.S. had a $6.8 billion trade surplus with 
Brazil last year, according to the Census Bureau.

   He also noted that Bolsonaro had been given a fair trial, and that his case 
should not factor in their trade negotiations.

   "Bolsonaro is part of the past now in Brazilian history" he said.

   Lula said he also offered to help mediate the crisis in Venezuela, where 
President Nicolas Maduro has accused the U.S. of fabricating a war against him 
after Washington sent the world's biggest warship towards his country.

   Lula, who marked his 80th birthday on Monday, said he felt at a high point 
of his life and that he hopes to live up to 120 years old. He was in Kuala 
Lumpur to attend annual summits held by the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations as a guest of chair Malaysia, which hopes to deepen the region's trade 
links with Latin America.

   From aboard Air Force One, the 79-year-old Trump also wished Lula a happy 
birthday, describing the Brazilian president as "a very vigorous guy."

   "I was very impressed," Trump said.