U.S. President Donald Trump said he is ready to speak with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva “anytime,” signalling a possible opening in a trade standoff triggered by Washington’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on most Brazilian exports. The levy, signed on 31 July and due to take effect on 6 August, was justified by the White House as a response to what Trump called a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro. Lula welcomed the offer but stressed that any negotiations must take place on equal footing. “Brazil values its ties with the United States but seeks equal terms—we don’t want conflict, but don’t fear the US,” he told supporters at a Workers’ Party event in Brasília. He added that there is “a limit” to how far Brasília will go in the dispute, reiterating that Brazil will defend its workers and companies while remaining open to dialogue. Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said he plans to discuss the tariffs soon with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The trade row comes amid broader political tension. Last week Washington also sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes under the Magnitsky Act, accusing him of rights abuses in his handling of Bolsonaro’s legal cases. On 3 August, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters marched in several Brazilian cities—some waving U.S. flags and thanking Trump—to protest Moraes and Lula while calling for amnesty for those charged over the 2023 riots. The demonstrations underscored the domestic pressures both leaders face as they weigh whether to dial back the tariff before it begins biting bilateral commerce.