Manaus Industrial Hub (PIM) Disclosure/Suframa The news arrived practically at the same time. On the one hand, the Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM) recorded a 9.2% increase in imports of inputs in May, a movement interpreted by the productive sector as an indication of expansion of industrial activity in the coming months. On the other hand, the United States announced an additional tariff of 25% on a large part of Brazilian products, putting protectionism back at the center of discussions on international trade. And, even though apparently disconnected, the two facts are not. The growth in imports is normally a good sign for an industry like Manaus. Before manufacturing motorcycles, televisions, air conditioning units, computers or electronic equipment, companies need to purchase components, raw materials and inputs. When these purchases increase, the expectation is usually for greater production, revenue and economic movement in the following months. Recent indicators suggest that this is precisely the scenario experienced by PIM at the moment. The data released points to a positive pace in industrial activity, supported mainly by demand from the domestic market and investments made throughout 2026. At the same time, the North American government's decision highlights an issue that goes far beyond exports: the growing fragmentation of international trade. Although it is still too early to measure the direct impacts on the PIM - especially since there is, to date, no official survey indicating which products manufactured in Amazonas will effectively be affected by the new tariff - the episode invites a broader reflection on industrial competitiveness. It is important to remember that PIM has its own characteristic. Unlike other Brazilian industrial hubs, its production is mainly directed to the national market. Between January and May 2026, PIM's revenue reached around R$99.6 billion, while exports represented a relatively small portion of this result, showing that its main vocation continues to be supplying the Brazilian market. This initially reduces the direct exposure of the Amazon industry to new trade barriers. Still, concluding that Manaus is immune to the effects of the international scenario would be a mistake. The recent growth in imports demonstrates how much the local industry remains integrated into global supply chains. Most of the components used in the manufacture of PIM products come from abroad. Semiconductors, electronic circuits, resins, mechanical and chemical components and various inputs travel through a complex international network before reaching the production lines installed in Manaus. This means that changes in world trade can have repercussions far beyond exports, influencing industrial costs, component availability, international logistics, exchange rates and investment decisions. Another aspect that deserves attention is that trade wars rarely produce effects limited to the countries directly involved. Tariffs alter trade flows, displace suppliers, stimulate the search for new markets and reorganize entire production chains. Multinational companies begin to reevaluate strategies, while governments intensify policies aimed at industrial and technological security. For Amazonas, this context also brings opportunities. The rise in imports represents, at the same time, a positive indicator of economic activity and a reminder of the strong integration of PIM into global supply chains. The important question, therefore, is not whether the hub should import, something incompatible with its production structure, but in which segments there is room to expand value addition, strengthen national suppliers and stimulate engineering, research and development activities. This discussion converges directly with other ongoing transformations. The advancement of artificial intelligence, vehicle electrification, industrial robotics and the semiconductor industry has increased the strategic importance of the most technologically intensive sectors. In this scenario, competitiveness does not just mean producing more, but above all means producing with greater technological content, innovation capacity and greater insertion in global value chains. It is also worth noting that the United States' decision itself preserved products considered strategic for its economy, demonstrating that, in times of greater protectionism, even large markets need to balance commercial interests with the need to keep their production chains functioning. An important reflection in this context is to recognize the increase in imports as an indicator of confidence and expectation of production growth, without losing sight of the fact that the new international environment requires greater adaptation capacity, market diversification and strengthening of competitiveness. We still don't know what the concrete impacts of the new tariff will be on Amazonas. And any definitive conclusion at this point would be hasty. What can already be said, however, is that a more protectionist world requires an industry that is even more prepared, resilient and connected to technological transformations. The big challenge will be to ensure that the PIM continues to occupy a relevant space in a global economy that is increasingly dynamic, technological and subject to changes in international trade rules. Cristina Monte is a journalist, columnist and business analyst, specializing in covering industry, innovation and economic development in the Amazon.