Trump could meet Brazil's Lula in Malaysia, officials say

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil, 13 August, 2025
Reuters

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump may hold talks in Malaysia in the coming days, Brazilian diplomatic sources told Reuters on Wednesday, as both nations seek to manage steep tariffs imposed by Washington.

According to the O Globo newspaper, a meeting between the two leaders has been arranged for Sunday in Malaysia, though the exact timing remains undecided.

Brazilian diplomats told Reuters they were proceeding with caution, as the White House has yet to give formal confirmation.

A White House official earlier said there had been “discussions about facilitating such a meeting” in Malaysia, following a cordial phone call between the two leaders last month in which they discussed economic and trade relations.

In early August, Trump raised tariffs on most Brazilian imports to 50% from 10%, linking the decision to what he described as a “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro was subsequently sentenced in September to more than 27 years in prison by Brazil’s Supreme Court for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula.

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