Brazil will extend its steel import quota regime for another 12 months from June, the foreign trade chamber Camex's executive management committee (Gecex) said on 28 May.
Steel imports within the quota threshold will remain subject to reduced 10-16pc tariffs, while a 25pc duty applies to volumes exceeding the quota.
The quotas cover 19 steel products across flat, long and tubular steel segments, regardless of origin. The foreign trade authority assigned individual quota volumes for each product based on historical import levels.
Gecex will also increase quota volumes for four coated flat steel products by 15pc, it said. The adjustment aims to avoid double protection, as the products became subject to antidumping duties in February 2026.
Brazil imposed AD duties on imports of cold-rolled coil (CRC), hot-dipped galvanized (HDG) and other coated steel products from China earlier this year.
Quota allocations will renew every four months through June 2027. Importers will be able to access lower tariffs on around 540,000 metric tonnes (t) of steel during each of the three periods.
Steelmakers' association Instituto Aco Brasil requested that Gecex raise import tariffs to 35pc, which is the country's highest rate at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The group also proposed to eliminate the current quota system so the higher duty would apply to all imports.
Gecex ultimately rejected the proposals, citing concerns that the measure could increase costs for downstream manufacturing sectors that consume steel products.
The Brazilian quota regime was introduced in 2024 to curb rising steel imports and will now remain in effect for a third consecutive year.
