Brazil's government has renewed and expanded 25% tariffs on steel imports for another 12 months, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC) announced this Tuesday. The decision, made by the Executive Management Committee of the Foreign Trade Chamber (Gecex/Camex), maintains a quota system on import volumes for 19 existing steel products and extends the measure to four new ones.

Initially imposed in April last year, these trade defense measures are to protect Brazilian steelmakers from cheap foreign steel, particularly from China, which domestic producers claim is flooding the local market.

Steel imports under trade agreements or special regimes will not be counted towards the established quotas. The MDIC did not specify the newly affected products.