Alckmin: Tariff reduction yesterday was the biggest advance in negotiations

The vice-president and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, said this Friday, the 21st, that the American government’s decision on Thursday to expand the list of Brazilian products exempt from the additional 40% tariff was “the biggest step taken” in negotiations with the United States.

“It’s the biggest tariff reduction, it was the biggest advance in Brazil-United States negotiations,” Alckmin told journalists, in an interview at Palácio do Planalto.

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He recalled that, gradually, some products were removed from the list of items subject to the American surcharge, such as cellulose, iron-nickel and wood.

“In this decision on Thursday, we had the biggest advance, with 238 products”, he stated.

He stressed that, when tariffs began, a 50% tariff covered 36% of exports, and was reduced to 22%. “Today we will have 22% of Brazilian exports charged, which last year was US$40 billion.”