Brazilian Vice President Alckmin 'very optimistic' after Lula-Trump phone call

Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin claimed to be "very optimistic" following a 30-minute long phone call between Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his American counterpart Donald Trump on lifting punitive trade tariffs.

 The two leaders spoke for 30 minutes in a "friendly tone" and Lula raised the possibility of a meeting in Malaysia next month, the Brazilian presidency said in a statement. Lula "requested the removal" of tariffs imposed on his country's products and sanctions against Brazilian officials. Trump hailed "a very good telephone call" in a post on Truth Social.