Brazilian agribusiness fears Trump's "tariff hike" against the sector.

247 - The recent decision by US President Donald Trump to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum imports has raised concerns among Brazilian agribusiness representatives. Lawmakers fear that the protectionist movement will expand and begin to affect agricultural products as well, a sector fundamental to the country's economy, reports Paulo Cappelli. Metropolis.

The leader of the Parliamentary Agricultural Front (FPA), Congressman Pedro Lupion (PP-PR), expressed concern about Trump's trade strategy and its potential impact on agribusiness. According to him, the recent tariffs on the metallurgical sector may indicate a similar path for agricultural commodities. “It's worrying. It's natural. It's a move the American president has made in all negotiations. There's also a lot of bravado, moves made to bring [other countries] to the negotiating table, as in the cases of Mexico, Panama, and Canada. The Republican Party is more protectionist,” stated the congressman.

Despite concerns about trade barriers, Lupion avoided directly criticizing the Republican president. The agricultural caucus has strong ties to Jair Bolsonaro (PL), a political ally of Trump.

The tariff measure was made official this Tuesday (11), imposing a 25% tax on steel and aluminum imports. The main exporters of these products to the US are Canada, Brazil and Mexico, followed by South Korea and Vietnam, according to data from the US government and the American Iron and Steel Institute.

The impact on Brazil could be significant. In 2022, the US was the destination for 49% of Brazilian steel exports, according to the Brazilian Steel Institute. In 2024, only Canada surpassed Brazil in supplying this input to the Americans. If protectionism extends to the agricultural sector, the Brazilian economy could be severely affected, especially in the export of soybeans, corn, and beef, products highly dependent on the external market.