Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin said on Tuesday that the government will not apply the Reciprocity Law as retaliation for the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States, which take effect on Wednesday.
Alckmin stated after a meeting with export sector representatives that the idea is not retaliation. He cited the saying that an eye for an eye can leave both blind and said the law will be used at the appropriate time, following President Lula's guidance.
Development, Industry, Trade and Services Minister Márcio Elias Rosa attended the meetings and reinforced the priority on negotiations with the US. The government also plans to seek new markets and provide support measures for affected sectors.
The tariffs impact about US$ 7.4 billion in Brazilian exports, or 18% of the total sent to Americans. Some products, such as coffee, beef and orange juice, were excluded from the list.
