Vice President states that government will seek reversal of 50% tax imposed by Trump and confirms sending a new letter to the White House; entrepreneurs ask for immediate postponement
The vice president and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, said on Tuesday (15) that Brazil could request more deadline to the United States to negotiate the taxation of 50% on Brazilian exports, imposed by US President Donald Trump. According to him, the request will be made “if necessary” in order to try to avoid damage to the productive sector.
The statement was given after the first meeting of the Interministerial Committee on Economic and Commercial Trading and Countermends, created by the Government Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and officially published in the Federal Official Gazette on Tuesday. “We want to solve the problem as soon as possible. If there is a need for more deadline, we will work in this regard,” said Alckmin, reinforcing that Brazil is committed to reversing the measure.
Entrepreneurs ask 90 days of truce
During the meeting, representatives of the national industry reinforced the request for postponement of the collection, scheduled to take effect on August 1. The sector has direct impacts on Brazilian competitiveness and estimated billionaire losses if the fare is maintained. The government, in turn, is still awaiting a response to a confidential letter sent to the US two months ago, where Brazil sought to open a dialogue channel to avoid the worsening of the commercial crisis.
Without official return so far, the Planalto already prepares a second letter, which should be sent in the coming days. “We will send a new correspondence saying, ‘We are waiting for the answer’ and still committed to solving this problem,” said the vice president.
Reversal of the fare is a priority
Alckmin again criticized Trump’s unilateral taxation, classifying it as “unfair to Brazil” and also “negative for the United States themselves.” The Brazilian government bets on diplomacy and institutional dialogue with the US private sector as a way to press the reversal of the measure.
“We will strive to reverse these rates. It is a fare that harms Brazil, but also negatively affects the United States productive chains that depend on Brazilian exports,” he said.
Committee composition
The Interministerial Committee on Economic and Commercial Trading and Contrameters brings together the Ministries of Development, Farm, Foreign Affairs and the Civil House. The coordination is by Alckmin, which will be mission to articulate strategies with entrepreneurs and political leaders to mitigate the effects of commercial sanctions.
Meetings with sectors such as aeronautical, agricultural, steel, aluminum and pulp are already scheduled. The expectation is to map the impacts and identify viable commercial alternatives to protect jobs and maintain the country’s competitiveness in the international scenario. The tension between the two countries gained new contours after Trump’s claim that Brazil was promoting retaliation to freedom of expression and leading a “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro-the argument that the Plateau vehemently denies.
