The vice president and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, defended, on Wednesday (12), the establishment of exemption quotas for steel and aluminum sent to the United States. Thus, Brazil could export a certain amount of steel and aluminum without paying the full taxation. 
Alckmin also said that he will look for US authorities to negotiate the terms of the 25% on imports imposed by President Donald Trump.
“It’s always a good way for us to look for winning,” said Alckmin after an event at Planalto Palace.
The vice president recalled that the United States has a $ 7.2 billion surplus with Brazil, that is, sell more goods and services than they buy. In addition, according to him, Brazil’s final import rate for US products is very low, 2.7%, as many imported products have zero aliquot, such as machines and equipment.
“So we will dialogue to seek a good understanding. It has no tax war, there is understanding based on the public interest, ”he reaffirmed.
>> Understand how the US steel tax impacts exports in Brazil
“[A taxação] It was not against Brazil. The rate that was imposed was all over the world. So she was not discriminatory. United States are an important commercial partner in Brazil, not the largest, the largest is China, but it is for him that we export [equipamentos com] Value added, plane, equipment, and on the other hand, is the largest investor in Brazil, ”said Alckmin.
During his first term, Donald Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum, but then granted partner exemption quotas, including Canada, Mexico and Brazil, which are the main suppliers of these products for the United States.
According to the vice president, the intention is to try to keep quotas as Brazil has today.
“This is everyday. Every day you have these rates of tariff change. The path is dialogue and we will look for the US government to seek the best solution, “said Alckmin.
Reciprocity
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said last week that the Brazil can apply the reciprocity lawincreasing the rates of US products consumed by Brazil. “The least decency that deserves a government is to use the reciprocity law,” he said in an interview with radios in Minas Gerais.
According to data from the US government’s international trade administration, Brazil was the second largest steel supplier for the country in 2024, losing only to Canada. Already a survey of the Brazil Steel Institute, based on official data from the Brazilian government, shows that the US was the main destination of steel in the country, representing 49% of all steel exported by the country by 2023.
