Alckmin says Trump tariffs impact 3.3% of Brazilian exports

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin stated on Saturday (23) that Brazil will overcome the trade crisis sparked by tariffs imposed by the United States (US) government, emphasizing the country’s reduced dependence on the American market compared to previous decades.

“This will pass. In the 1980s, 24% of our exports went to the US—almost a quarter of all Brazilian exports. Today, it’s 12%. And what’s actually affected [by the tariffs] is 3.3%. That’s the portion hit by the tariff hike,” said the vice president, who also serves as Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, during a political debate organized by the Workers’ Party (PT) in Brasília.

Here is a historical overview of Brazil’s imports and exports starting from January 2022. The chart was prepared using data from DataLiner:

Brazilian Imports and Exports | Jan 2022 – Jun 2025 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

Alckmin noted that around 36% of exports to the US are the most affected by the 50% tariff, and that these sectors, including machinery, equipment, and textiles, are hit more severely.

“Machinery, equipment, footwear, and textiles—those are the hardest hit. Because food products, like meat, if I don’t sell it there, I can sell it elsewhere. The world doesn’t end. Coffee—if I don’t sell it there, I’ll sell it somewhere else. However, with manufactured goods, it’s more challenging to redirect. Eventually it happens, but it takes a bit longer,” said the vice president, who has been Brazil’s lead negotiator in this matter.

“We’re not going to give up on lowering this rate and removing more products,” he insisted, noting that not all Brazilian exports have been hit by the 50% tariff. Around 42% were excluded from the higher tariff, while another 16% were subject to tariffs that also affect other countries, such as those applied to steel, aluminum, and copper.

As an alternative, Alckmin emphasized the need to expand into new markets, including finalizing the Mercosur–European Union agreement—which could be signed by the end of the year—and other ongoing negotiations such as Mercosur’s agreements with EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

Alckmin also highlighted federal government measures to mitigate the negative impact on Brazilian exporters, including new lines of credit, suspension of import taxes on inputs under the drawback regime, and an increase in the refund rate of federal taxes for affected companies.

On the international front, the vice president referenced Brazil’s complaint filed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the US tariffs and stated that the case could potentially reach US courts. “You can’t use regulatory policy for partisan or political reasons,” he said.

Source: Agência Brasil

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