The Chinese government will grant import permits for domestic automakers' chips.

Brazilian manufacturers in the automotive sector may receive special authorization from the Chinese government to import chips and avoid shortages in the national market, which has been worrying the sector. The diplomatic gesture was confirmed this Saturday (1st) by the Chinese ambassador to Brazil, Zhu Qingqiao, to Anfavea (National Association of Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers), after negotiations conducted by the Brazilian government.

According to the statement, Brazilian companies facing difficulties importing semiconductors may request an exception to the embargo directly from the Chinese Embassy in Brasília or the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, which will evaluate each request individually before granting the special export license.

The measure comes amid strong global tension in the semiconductor supply chain. The recent crisis was exacerbated by the intervention of the Dutch government in Nexperia, one of the world's leading manufacturers of automotive chips, responsible for about 40% of the global market for basic components used in vehicles, such as diodes, transistors and voltage regulators.

The Dutch decision, made under national security claims, generated an immediate reaction from Beijing, which imposed restrictions on the export of Nexperia products manufactured or processed in Chinese territory. The blockade directly affected the international supply of semiconductors, raising concerns in countries that heavily depend on these inputs—such as Brazil.

The Brazilian market depends on chip imports.

In the Brazilian case, the dependence is almost total: the country imports practically all the chips used by the automotive industry. According to Anfavea, each modern vehicle produced in Brazil uses between one thousand and three thousand semiconductors, employed in systems ranging from electronic injection and brake control to safety and entertainment modules.

Therefore, a supply disruption could paralyze production lines in a matter of weeks. Anfavea itself estimates that, without chip replacements, automakers would have to suspend production within three weeks.

The Brazilian automotive sector, which employs around 1.3 million people and drives production chains that include steel, plastics, and electronics, is anxiously watching the unfolding crisis. Opening a dialogue with China is seen as a strategic protective measure, both to guarantee supply and to avoid cascading impacts on employment and the economy.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin highlighted that the Chinese gesture is "a positive step," but cautioned that it is still necessary to monitor how the commitment will materialize in practice. Automakers with greater integration into the Chinese supply chain, such as BYD and GWM, tend to be less affected, while manufacturers more dependent on European or North American suppliers remain in a vulnerable situation.