Gov't tries to stop US from blocking Brazil steel

Marcos Jorge, Brazil's Minister of Industry, Foreign Trade, and Services, is in Washington for a visit whose main purpose is to prevent the US government from setting up barriers to the import of Brazilian steel.

The minister is meeting with representatives from the US Chamber of Commerce today (Feb. 27). Also slated is a meeting with US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

“Steel is the main concern at the moment, due to the pressing potential decision that may be made by Americans,” he said.

Marcos Jorge was referring to the report released on February 16 by the US Department of Commerce, saying that steel and aluminum imports are a threat to the country's national security. The document suggests three plans for White House: a 24% global fee on all steel imports from any country; quotas for steel products from any country, 63% of what was exported to the US in 2017; or a fee of at least 53% on imports from 12 countries, among which Brazil.

According to the minister, “any [of these actions] is bad for Brazil,” but the one with the smallest negative impact would be the one with a global 24% tariff for all countries.

The Brazilian government, the minister said, has political arguments to attempt to reverse any decision by the US, since the trade between the two countries amounted to $51 billion last year, and the fact that the US are Brazil's second biggest commercial partner.

The US government is expected to utter an opinion on the topic by April 19.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira