Brazilian Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, and Commerce, Geraldo Alckmin, is set to engage in discussions today with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the steel and aluminum tariffs recently imposed by the United States.

Sources indicate that Alckmin will emphasize the complementary nature of these imports to the industries of both nations. Specifically, in the case of steel, Brazil’s exports to the United States primarily consist of semifinished products, such as slabs, which are crucial for the rolling activities of US companies.

In 2024, Brazil exported 4.3 million metric tons of slabs to the United States, according to the Brazilian foreign trade authority, SECEX. However, this volume may be underestimated, as Port of Pecem authorities, where ArcelorMittal exports slabs, have not reported export data for several months.

For comparison, the volume of finished steel products exported from Brazil to the United States in 2024 was significantly lower, limited to 355,000 metric tons.

These talks are expected to explore ways to address the ongoing trade tensions and the impact of tariffs on the steel industries of both nations.