Photo: screengrab from the official website of Brasil 247

By Brasil 247 - Brazil's Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC), Geraldo Alckmin, said on Tuesday (Sept. 30) that the country is already seeing concrete results from negotiations over the tariff hike imposed by the US on Brazilian products. The remarks were made during a meeting of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) board in Brasília, according to Agência Gov, citing MDIC data.

Alckmin emphasized that the recent meeting between Brazil and the US , held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, was pivotal in opening space for a more constructive dialogue. "Over the last four weeks, 8% of Brazilian exports affected by the tariff hike have been exempted. Four percent in pulp, and now another 4% in wood and furniture," the vice president said.

Private sector as a strategic ally

Alckmin underscored the importance of business engagement, particularly the CNI-led mission to Washington earlier in September. "The trip by CNI and the business delegation to the United States was very important. Amcham and the US Chamber have also been supportive, so this partnership is key to helping us resolve this issue," he said.

He also thanked CNI president Ricardo Alban for the commitment of both Brazilian and American business leaders: "This joint action shows that the effort to defend trade must be shared, bringing together the government and the private sector."

Interministerial committee and bilateral talks

Leading the Interministerial Committee on Negotiations and Economic and Trade Countermeasures, created to respond to the tariff dispute, Alckmin explained that dozens of meetings have already been held with Brazilian and US companies. The aim, he said, is to find solutions that avoid greater losses in bilateral trade and preserve the competitiveness of Brazilian industry.

CNI warns of rising global protectionism

CNI president Ricardo Alban voiced concern about the global shift toward protectionism, urging Brazil to maintain a firm stance. "If we speak so much about complementarity between the public and private sectors, then they must in fact complement each other to be efficient and close the gaps. We want to turn challenges into opportunities and reach constructive discussions," Alban said.

Initial gains and next steps

The early results — with part of Brazil's exports removed from the tariff list — are viewed by the government as an important but partial achievement. The MDIC plans to continue negotiation rounds, while maintaining close coordination with business associations and US authorities.

(Reported by Brasil 247 on October 1, 2025)