Brazil's Lula open to discussing tariffs, Venezuela with Trump

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday he is willing to discuss a wide range of topics with U.S. President Donald Trump if a meeting takes place, including tariffs on Brazilian exports and tensions with Venezuela.

Speaking in Jakarta before traveling to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia, Lula said the potential meeting, still unconfirmed, is highly anticipated.

Brazil's president plans to argue that the 50% tariffs imposed by Washington on Brazilian goods were a "mistake", citing a $410 billion U.S. trade surplus with Brazil over 15 years.

"There are no forbidden topics," Lula told reporters. "We can talk about Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, Venezuela, critical materials, rare earths — anything."

Trump increased tariffs on U.S. imports of most Brazilian goods to 50% from 10% in early August, linking the move to what he called a "witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula also criticized U.S. sanctions on Brazilian officials, including Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the trial that led to Bolsonaro's conviction for attempting a coup.

On Venezuela, Lula said he would welcome a discussion with Trump, urging respect for international law and sovereignty amid reports of U.S. operations in the region.

The White House has not confirmed the meeting, and Lula's name was not mentioned in Trump's Asia trip briefing.

(Reporting by Eduardo Simoes; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

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