Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said the US tariff will affect 4% of Brazilian exports, but of this total, 2% will already have an alternative destination. The statement was made on Tuesday (5) during the 5th Plenary Meeting of the Sustainable Social Economic Development Council.
Haddad began his participation in the event by highlighting a series of “good news” that ended up losing space in the media because of the concern with the effects of tariffs in Brazil.
“It was a apprehensive week, but with a lot of good news. Achievements that bring well -being to the population,” said the minister, citing the departure of Brazil from the map of hunger; the lowest unemployment rate in history (5.8%); And the income of Brazilians who, according to him, “increased as it does not occur from the Real Plan.”
The minister also cited the fall in inflation and inequality, “to the slightest of history”, as well as the primary results of public accounts; The quality of the fiscal adjustment and the preservation of investments in areas such as infrastructure and education.
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Markets
The minister recalled that exports to the United States have already represented 25% of what the country sends abroad, noting, however, that “thanks to the Lula administration, still in 2003, to open markets for Brazilian products, they [exportações para os EUA] now represent 12%. Of these 12%, 4% are affected by tariff ”.
“And from 4%, more than 2% will, of course, have another destination because they are international commodities that will find their destination in the short or medium term,” he added.
Haddad, however, considered that the situation requires care and a lot of attention.
“But we are attentive. It is not because 2% or 1.5% of exports will be affected that we will lower the guard. We know that there are, in this 1.5%, very vulnerable sectors. Sectors that generate a lot of employment, such as fruit.
He explained that the Federal Government’s concern is to ensure that people “eat, work, invest.”
“We will help these families impaired with an assault that has been called unfair, improper, and not consistent with the 200 years of fraternal relationship that bind us to the people of the United States,” said the minister.
Good news
Still in his speech, Haddad resumed the “good news” that set the tone of the early part of his speech.
“I could also talk about investment records, both in industry and infrastructure, which is living its best moment in 15 years. We have to look at all this in this geopolitical situation we are living. We have to look at all this with optimism, because without optimism I do not advise someone to take over the Ministry of Farm of Brazil,” he said.
* Title and article changed for correction of information on the percentage of Brazilian exports affected by the tariff.
