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Brazil plans cuts to steel import tariffs-report

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Brazil hopes to reduce import tariffs for steel to help local industries who will be hurt by domestic increases in the price of steel, according to a report in O Estado de S.Paulo on Wednesday.

The tariff on 20 different types of steel would be cut to zero from between 12 percent and 16 percent, meaning Brazilian companies will be able to get cheaper steel imports if they chose to, Estado said in an unsourced report.

Brazil's Finance Ministry intends to keep the import duty at zero for six months, after which it will renew the measure and then move to definitely open up its steel sector.

Estado said the Finance Ministry plans to formalize its proposal before the government's Foreign Trade Chamber, Camex, on Jan. 12.

No one was immediately available at the Finance Ministry to comment on the report.

Automakers in Brazil like Ford have already warned they will have to raise prices next year to offset the increasing price of steel.