BUENOS AIRES – The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, stated this Friday (7) that the United States depends on Brazilian meat to supply its hamburger industry and that the 50% tariff imposed by the Donald Trump government could end up increasing the price of meat in the United States.
“Brazilian meat is basically intended for processing, mainly hamburgers and meatballs. A very specific meat, and if they have to rearrange and use their meat to make hamburgers, there will be a lack of meat for the table”, said the head of Agriculture during the Buenos Aires Forum.
According to the minister, the United States continues to purchase significant volumes of meat from Brazil, even after the tariffs imposed, because of the competitiveness and quality of the Brazilian product. “The figures for exports from Brazil to the United States, also in terms of meat, continue to be very relevant. After all, Brazilian meat is very competitive, both in terms of quality and prices.”
Continues after advertising
Fávaro highlighted that American tariffs had a limited impact on Brazilian livestock, as the government has expanded trade agreements and opened new international markets. “Virtually little of Brazilian livestock farming felt the impact of the 50% tariffs.”
Brazilian fresh beef exports totaled 320.6 thousand tons in October, growth of 18.6% compared to a year before, renewing the record recorded in September. Amid the US tariff, however, it was China that took the opportunity to buy more: in September, exports to China increased by almost 40%, according to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex) published on Thursday (6).
For the minister, maintaining trade between Brazil and the USA is essential for American consumers and Brazilian producers. “Brazil continues to be a major exporter, and the consequence of this is that meat inflation happened in the pockets of North Americans. Therefore, I am sure that this renegotiation will be good for Brazil, but it will also be very good for the United States.”
The statements come amid negotiations opened after the meeting between presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Donald Trump in Malaysia, when both signaled their willingness to review tariffs imposed on Brazilian products and restore trade balance between the two largest economies in the Americas.
