Trump tariff worries Alto Tietê industry; USA is the main export destination

Factories in Alto Tietê should feel an impact on sales after Donald Trump's tariffs Photo 1: Company Ecus/File - Photo 2: REUTERS/Carlos Osorio The new 25% tariff imposed by the United States on part of Brazilian products could affect the exports of the Alto Tietê industry, which has the American market as the main destination for its sales abroad. In the first half of 2026, the region exported R$377 million in products to the USA, equivalent to 16.1% of local exports, according to the Center for Industries of the State of São Paulo (Ciesp). ?? The additional 25% tariff from the United States on part of Brazilian products came into force on June 22nd. However, the charge started to be applied to products that arrived in the country this Wednesday (29). ? Click to follow the g1 Mogi das Cruzes e Suzano channel on WhatsApp With the new tariff, changes are expected in the behavior of the region's industry. For the president of Ciesp, Rafael Cervone, “the new tariffs, which position Brazil as one of the countries with the most severe trade barriers in the United States, greatly affect our competitiveness in one of the largest global markets”. Plastic parts factory set up in Mogi das Cruzes due to the city's location Company Ecus/Arquivo According to Renato Rissoni, director of Ciesp in Alto Tietê, the moment requires caution and a detailed technical analysis. “We still do not have an estimate of the impact of the measure on the volume of exports in the region, but it is certain that an increase in tariffs will naturally generate greater caution on the part of companies”, he warns. ?? The main products exported by Alto Tietê are among the categories that are affected by the new tariff imposed by the United States. Among them are paper and cardboard, which represent 19.1% of the region's exports, and electrical machinery and appliances, with 10.9% (see below for the complete list). For economist Diego Hernandez, these sectors have little margin to absorb a sudden increase of 25%. By passing this cost on to buyers, Brazilian products become less competitive, which could make sales unfeasible in the short term. "It is something that is impractical overnight. The local market will need time to reabsorb this surplus and look for buyers in other countries. It is necessary to find new ways to reduce this dependence on the United States", explains the economist. In addition to the United States, Argentina and Paraguay are also among the main destinations for exports from Alto Tietê. Together, the two countries accounted for just over 22% of the region's foreign sales in the first half of the year. Argentina: 15.1% of exports, equivalent to R$354 million. Paraguay: 7.1% of exports, with R$165 million in purchases. The diversification of markets gains even more importance to reduce the impacts of the American tariff on the regional economy and preserve jobs in the industry. US tariffs worry exporting industries in Alto Tietê Impact on jobs According to Hernandez, the time needed to find new buyers for this production could pressure companies to adopt short-term measures. "If this tariff continues for longer, the industry will not be able to absorb the loss alone and this directly affects the worker", warns the economist. Data from the General Register of Employed and Unemployed People (Caged) show that around 29% of workers with a formal contract in Alto Tietê work in the industry. In total, the sector employs more than 100 thousand people.