Brazil hopes that the signing of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union will occur “as quickly as possible”, said this Friday (19) the vice-president of the Republic and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin. According to him, the eventual postponement should be short, given the relevance of the treaty for Brazil, the South American bloc and international trade.
“The Mercosur–European Union agreement is important for Mercosur and for the world, for the advancement of multilateralism. We hope that it will be signed as quickly as possible”, said Alckmin in an interview with the press to review the ministry’s activities in 2025.
The minister highlighted that, despite political resistance from some European countries, such as France and Italy, the Brazilian government remains optimistic about the completion of the process.
Negotiations with Mexico and India
Alckmin also said that Brazil is working to expand trade agreements with other strategic partners. According to him, the government is optimistic that by July there will be progress in negotiations with Mexico to increase the preferred tariff lines.
“The same goes for India,” added the minister. With Canada and the United Arab Emirates, the objective is to deepen discussions towards broader free trade agreements.
Regarding the recent increase in tariffs from MexicoAlckmin highlighted that existing agreements, such as the automotive one, will not be affected. As a result, the estimated impact of the measures fell to around US$600 million, below the initial projection, which exceeded US$1 billion.
US tariff
Even in the face of the increase in protectionist measures on the global stage, including the tariffs adopted by the United States, Alckmin predicts that Brazil should end the year with record exports. According to him, the majority of Brazilian sales to the American market occur with low or no tariffs.
“See how important it is to open markets. Brazil should close the year with record exports”, he stated.
Agenda
In his year-end review, Alckmin presented an agenda focused on reducing bureaucracy, encouraging foreign investment and strengthening industry. Among the announcements, he highlighted the creation of the Single Investment Window, scheduled for the beginning of 2026, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The tool should centralize processes and reduce costs for investors interested in the country.
The minister also mentioned the Camex 360 platform, already in operation, which gathers information on tariffs, anti-dumping processes and foreign trade decisions.
Automotive industry
Alckmin detailed the new credit program for renewing the truck fleet, focusing on road safety, public health and stimulating industry. Regulated this Friday by the National Monetary Council (CMN)the program provides financing with differentiated interest rates for self-employed drivers and fleet owners, subject to the disposal of old vehicles.
According to the minister and vice-president, in addition to the R$6 billion guaranteed by Provisional Measure 1,328published on Tuesday (16), the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) will make a contribution of R$4 billion. With the additional resources, Alckmin explained, the special line of credit for truck renewal will have R$10 billion available.
In the passenger vehicle sector, the minister highlighted the growth in sales of models considered entry-level “sustainable cars”, driven by tax incentives considered fiscally neutral.
“What we are showing is that it is possible to move forward with free markets, multilateralism and sustainability”, concluded Alckmin.
