Brazil is set to revise tax perks that currently benefit dairy imports from Mercosur countries.
A new decree from the Ministry of Agriculture will soon formalize this change.
Specifically, the tweak targets agribusinesses, cooperatives, and the dairy industry involved in a special program.
Originally, these entities could use up to half of specific tax credits. The credits helped lessen other federal tax burdens.
The new rules will be different. Only businesses sourcing dairy from local producers will maintain the full 50% credit.
Companies importing dairy will now only qualify for a 20% credit.
Prompted by local agricultural organizations, this change aims to bolster national dairy production.
Recent data reveals that Brazil’s dairy imports have soared this year.
Uruguay’s Agriculture Minister, Fernando Mattos, has expressed concern that these new policies could strain relations between the countries.
Priority to Domestic Producers
The modification aims to prioritize domestic dairy producers. Essentially, it uses tax policy as a lever to guide business behavior.
This is in line with a broader international move to protect local industries. Nevertheless, such policies can pose risks to free trade and economic openness.
Interestingly, the previous program already had a nationalistic bent. It mandated that a percentage of the credits should aid local dairy.
So, this shift isn’t completely out of the blue.
Recent dialogues with Uruguay indicate potential regional ramifications. Even with mutual understanding, the new fiscal changes could stir tensions.
This may lead to higher dairy prices for the consumer, as domestic supply may not meet demand.
Lastly, this move could disrupt the dynamics within Mercosur. It could trigger other member states to rethink their trade policies, possibly causing a ripple effect in the region.
Background Brazil Protectionism
The dairy sector in Brazil has long called for governmental action to manage rising milk imports, mainly from Argentina and Uruguay.
Such imports have depressed local prices and compounded sector challenges.
A recent event in Brasília, led by a group backing dairy producers, focused on the socioeconomic effects of milk imports.
Data shows that milk imports in the first half of this year approached levels seen for all of 2016.
Paraná, a key player in Brazil’s dairy industry, significantly contributes to the annual output of around 33.3 billion liters.