The federal government is meeting this Tuesday (15) with industry and agribusiness sectors to discuss the 50% tariff imposed by the United States on Brazilian products. The first meeting with industry and agribusiness leaders will take place in the morning. In the afternoon, it will be the agribusiness sector’s turn.
Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, and Commerce Geraldo Alckmin opened the morning meeting by saying that the government will pursue negotiations calmly, but without interfering with other branches of government, as Trump suggested when criticizing decisions of the Supreme Federal Court (STF).
Alckmin described the US measures as inadequate and asked for the cooperation of Brazilian business leaders.
“The participation of each of you, in your specific areas, is important so that we can work together. The Brazilian government is committed to resolving this issue, and we want to hear your suggestions,” the vice president emphasized.
The government will also speak with American companies that buy from and sell to Brazil. Alckmin noted that the tax increases the cost and harms the economies of both countries, as there is a significant economic reciprocity in sectors such as steel.
Committee
Dialogue with the private sector will be the first task of the newly created Interministerial Committee for Negotiation and Economic and Trade Countermeasures.
The Ministries of Development, Industry and Commerce (MDIC), Finance, Foreign Affairs, and the Chief of Staff’s Office are part of this committee. Other departments were invited to participate in the meetings.
On Monday, Geraldo Alckmin reinforced that Brazil was already in talks and was awaiting a response from US representatives before announcing the new tariffs.
“On May 16th, a proposal for negotiation was submitted to the United States, albeit confidentially, but has not yet been responded to. And as of Friday, before the announcement, a technical meeting was underway.”
Geraldo Alckmin highlighted the government’s full commitment to reviewing the tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump.
“The responsibility is to fully commit to reviewing this issue. First, because it is completely inappropriate. Brazil does not have a surplus with the United States—quite the opposite. Of the ten products they export most, eight have zero tariffs. So, we will work together with the private sector.”
The Brazilian government is still considering the measures it will take if the United States maintains the tariff, scheduled to take effect on August 1st. The Economic Reciprocity Law, approved by Congress this year, should guide the Brazilian government’s actions. The regulations for the law were published this Tuesday.
Source: Agência Brasil