“If it depends on us, the tariff hike will end tomorrow,” says Alckmin

The Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, stated that Brazil will not give up on negotiating the tariff hike with the United States government.

“If it depends on us, the price hike will end tomorrow,” he said on Saturday (23), during a visit to a dealership in São Paulo.

According to the minister, progress in negotiations with the US is possible. "This is the work: dialogue and negotiation. We understand that there is room to exclude more products (from the tariff hike) and to have a lower rate," he said.

According to Alckmin, the extension of 50% tariffs on more than 400 steel and aluminum products to other countries creates a more balanced competitive environment.

“This helps the competitiveness of everything that uses steel and aluminum: machinery, backhoes, motorcycles, industrial products,” he said.

When asked about the compensation the Brazilian government could offer the US, Alckmin did not rule out reductions in the ethanol import tariff.

The vice president also spoke about other sources of negotiation, such as biofuels, strategic minerals, and the Cbios market, which involves American companies.

BNDES increased the amount allocated to the contingency plan against tariff hikes

Another point raised by the vice president was the increase in the amount allocated to the contingency plan to help companies most affected by US tariffs.

According to Alckmin, the increase from R$30 billion to R$40 billion allocated for this purpose by the BNDES broadens the range of companies that can be assisted.

“We will serve more companies, even those that don’t export much,” he said.

Alckmin travels to Mexico seeking market expansion

Regarding the trip to Mexico, next Tuesday (26), Alckmin stated that he aims to expand the commercial partnership between both countries. The Brazilian trade balance is in surplus - that is, Brazil exports more than it imports from Mexico.

According to the vice president, it is possible to further expand trade between the two countries in sectors such as energy, biofuels, medical equipment, and agribusiness.