Brazil sees trade quotas as a potential alternative to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and is open to discussions with Donald Trump’s administration, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said on February 12.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government has not yet discussed the issue with the Trump administration since the U.S. leader ordered 25% tariffs on imports of the metals February 11. But quotas that limit the amount of steel Brazil exports to the U.S. each year proved a “good solution” during past trade disputes and could be on the table again, Alckmin told reporters in Brasilia.

“Dialogue is the best way forward,” the vice president, who also serves as Brazil’s minister of industry and trade, said. “We are open and there are several alternatives, one of which is the establishment of quotas.”

Alckmin did not provide additional details. But Trump’s tariff order terminated an agreement between the two countries that had established quotas on Brazilian steel exports during his first term in office.

After Trump imposed similar levies during his previous term, the U.S. and Brazil agreed to export quotas of 3.5 million tons of semi-finished products and slabs and 687,000 tons of rolled products. Trump ended up granting exemptions from the tariffs to Brazil and other nations. They struck a deal to keep the regime in place two years later, when the U.S. threatened to terminate the exceptions.

“Brazilian companies were already subject to annual import quotas by the U.S., which limits the volume exported to that country,” said Tiago Cunha, stock manager at ACE Capital. “In fact, only 18% of U.S. imports paid the full 25% rate.”

Brazil is the third-largest supplier of steel the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Aco Brasil institute, an industry group that represents Brazilian steelmakers, said this week that it expects the governments to reach an agreement similar to the one from Trump’s first term.

In January, Lula promised to take reciprocal measures in response to any new tariffs from Trump. But his government has since adopted a more cautious tone, with Alckmin and officials from the Foreign Affairs and Finance ministries out front.

Alckmin said he spoke with Brazil’s ambassador to the U.S. on February 11, and that they planned to seek discussions with the Trump administration to “find the best solution” before the new tariffs are scheduled to begin in March.

“There is no tariff war,” Alckmin said.