Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said on Tuesday that the allegations of US President Donald Trump, according to which Brazil is the most favored nation, with a nominal average tariff of 3.3% consolidated within the World Trade Organization (WTO) do not proceed. According to the minister, despite the allegations of the high global tariff profile of Brazil, the average fare effectively applied to US products by Brazil is 2.7%, against 3.3% of the US.
“In addition, eight of the main US export products to Brazil come with zero tariff, representing 74% of all US exports to Brazil. Nor is the claim that Brazil would treat the US in comparison with other countries. All Brazilian tariffs respect the most favored principle, according to WTO rules, and are not selectively as the country has been applied to the country, unlike the country Having happened to the US compared to Brazil, ”said the minister, who participates on Tuesday, an event organized by Fiesp and the Council of the Americas, in São Paulo.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the only exceptions to these rules are the countries with which Brazil maintains free trade or commercial preference agreements, among those who appear, for example, Mexico and India, expressly mentioned by the US in their complaints against Brazil, as well as most members of the Latin American Integration Association (Aladi).
Free tool
XP Simulator
Learn in 1 minute how much your money can yield
“These agreements, however, are fully in line with WTO rules and multilateral trade practice. There is no illegality or discriminatory treatment granted on these arrangements, which work similarly to US treatment, for example, exports in Mexico and Canada, under its regional trade agreement, the US-México-Canada agreement (USMCA),” Mauro Vieira said.
According to him, all these data clearly demonstrate that allegations of unfair imbalance or treatment by Brazil to the US in their business relations do not proceed.
“It is essential to highlight that, despite our full conviction regarding these facts, we do not remain inert in the face of US demonstrations about the trade relationship between the two countries. President Lula’s government since the beginning of the year has maintained intense dialogue with US authorities at various levels, always seeking to demonstrate the reality of facts and willingness to negotiate. In at least two occasions between March and April. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin has also done the same in relation to that country’s secretary of commerce on two occasions in that same period, ”said Vieira.
Continues after advertising
In addition, he said, since March this year, six virtual meetings and a face -to -face meeting in Washington, at high technical level, led by representatives of Itamaraty and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Services, have been held. On May 6, according to him, daily proposals were sent to the US that could give rise to negotiations, with various topics that were complained of part of the countries, in the UTR reports on bilateral trade.
“This proposal, however, was never answered. On the contrary, on July 9, President Trump released in his social networks a letter addressed to President Lula, and President Lula reiterated that this data is untrue for bilateral trade. There was no determination for the dialogue by Brazil,” said the minister.
Contact: Francisco.assis@estadao.com
