Lula says he is “open to dialogue” after Trump’s positive gesture

Brazilian President Lula da Silva said he was available to discuss tariffs after his US counterpart, Donald Trump, suggested the possibility of a conversation between the two.

"We have always been open to dialogue," Lula da Silva wrote on social media on Friday, in an apparent response to Trump's statements, who said the same day that the Brazilian could speak to him "whenever he wanted," although he insisted that "the people who lead Brazil have done wrong things."

Despite declaring openness to dialogue, Lula clarified that "those who define Brazil's direction are Brazilians and their institutions," in statements following attacks by the White House on the South American country's Supreme Court over the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro for attempted coup.

The US government on Wednesday sanctioned Judge Alexandre de Moraes – the rapporteur in the case against Bolsonaro – freezing all assets or properties the judge may have in the United States, accusing him of violating freedom of expression by ordering the removal of anti-democratic messages on social media.

It was also based on this criticism of Bolsonaro's trial and the judge's actions that Trump imposed a 50% tariff on a significant portion of Brazilian imports.

Lula da Silva, who did not elaborate on whether or how he would respond to the tariffs, also stated that the government is working "to protect" the economy, businesses, and workers.

Although Brazilian authorities have already demonstrated a willingness to negotiate a way out of these tariffs before they come into effect, the White House has so far ignored these attempts.