Governor states that Minas Gerais expanded markets for coffee during the tariff and that only the electromechanical sector remains affected
The governor of , , was in this Thursday to fulfill a political and economic agenda and commented on the effects of the partial repeal of the tariff imposed on Brazilian products, a measure that affected strategic sectors of the state.
Zema explained that Minas Gerais had already been adjusting its export policy since the beginning of the additional charge applied by the United States. According to him, the coffee chain, one of the most relevant in the Minas Gerais economy, managed to avoid greater losses by redirecting sales to other markets.
The governor highlighted that the state adopted lines of credit and accelerated ICMS reimbursement processes for exporters, which guaranteed breathing space for companies amid the tariffs. “With the revocation of a large part of the tariff, only the electromechanical segment continues to be affected in Minas,” he stated.
He also highlighted that the change in the global flow of coffee opened up new opportunities for Minas Gerais producers. Countries there started to buy more coffee from Minas Gerais, possibly for re-export to the United States, which maintained barriers to the Brazilian product. “Tariffs have an impact, but the economy adjusts. That’s what happened,” he said.
Zema stated that, although the North American market is historically one of the main destinations for coffee from Minas Gerais, the strong international demand redistributed the clientele and offset the initial impact of the tariff.
The governor concluded by reinforcing that Minas Gerais continues working to increase its competitiveness and diversify markets, even in the face of external pressure.
