“I’m convinced that in a few days we’ll have a definitive solution, you know, between the US and Brazil, so that life can continue well and happily,” Lula told reporters on the sidelines of an Asean meeting 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% 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 US 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.

Asked by a reporter on Sunday whether Bolsonaro would form part of Trump’s discussions with Lula, Trump replied, “None of your business.”