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Investing.com -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed willingness Friday to discuss a broad range of topics with U.S. President Donald Trump if a meeting between the two leaders materializes.
Speaking to reporters in Jakarta before heading to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia, Lula said he would address the 50% tariffs Washington imposed on Brazilian goods, which he called a "mistake."
The Brazilian leader plans to highlight that the United States has maintained a $410 billion trade surplus with Brazil over a 15-year period.
"There are no forbidden topics," Lula stated. "We can talk about Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, Venezuela, critical materials, rare earths — anything."
Lula also expressed criticism of U.S. sanctions against Brazilian officials, including Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the trial that resulted in President Bolsonaro’s conviction for attempting a coup.
Regarding Venezuela, Lula indicated he would welcome discussions with Trump on the matter, emphasizing the importance of respecting international law and sovereignty amid reports of U.S. operations in the region.
The White House has not yet confirmed whether the meeting will take place, and Lula’s name was not mentioned during Trump’s Asia trip briefing.
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