United States Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, said on Tuesday (29) that Donald Trump government could exempt “natural resources” from imports on imports from other countries, but did not specifically cited Brazil.
“Natural resources, the president included when he closes an agreement. He includes, if you cultivate something and we do not cultivate, it can go to zero [a tarifa]. So if we make an agreement with a country that cultivates mango or pineapple, they can enter without fare, and coffee and cocoa would be other examples of natural resources, ”the secretary said in an interview with CNBC.
Brazil accounts for about 35% of unparalleled coffee imports from the United States and also sells cocoa to Americans.
Although the US produces coffee and cocoa in warmer regions, such as Hawaii, depend on imports to meet the vast majority of its needs of these products.
On the 9th, in a letter sent to the Lula administration, Trump announced that he should impose a 50% rate on imports of Brazilian products from Friday (1st) and for now there is no signaling of an agreement to reduce this surcharge.
