Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) said the government will not retaliate against the U.S. despite new trade tariffs.
This stance is critical as Brazil seeks to maintain diplomatic stability with its largest trading partner while protecting its domestic export economy from significant financial shocks.
Speaking at a press conference in Brasília, Alckmin said the 25% [1] tariff imposed by the U.S. on Brazilian products does not mean the Economic Reciprocity Law implies a strategy of retaliation against the United States. The vice president said the government is focusing on a structured response rather than an escalatory trade conflict.
Alckmin said a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of the 25% [1] tariff will be released next week. The plan aims to provide a framework for Brazilian exporters to navigate the new costs without destabilizing the broader bilateral relationship.
There are conflicting reports regarding the timing of these statements. A video report from Jovem Pan News indicates the press conference took place on Tuesday, July 21 [2], while a report from MSN dated the event to Saturday, July 9 [3].
Despite the discrepancy in dates, the core message from the vice president remains a commitment to economic reciprocity over aggressive retaliation. The Brazilian government is currently evaluating how the tariffs affect specific sectors of the economy before finalizing the upcoming contingency measures.
“The government will not retaliate against the U.S. despite new trade tariffs.”
Brazil is attempting to decouple the concept of 'economic reciprocity' from 'retaliation' to avoid a full-scale trade war. By promising a contingency plan instead of immediate counter-tariffs, the Alckmin administration is signaling a preference for diplomatic negotiation and market adaptation over the aggressive protectionism that often characterizes tariff disputes.
