Chamber of Deputies President says Brazil needs to end “excessive taxation of essential goods”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies about to analyze a bill that changes the classification of fuels for essential goods and services in search of a reduction in prices for the final consumer, the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), said on May 22, by Twitter, that Brazil needs to end with “excessive taxation of essential goods. Otherwise, he wrote, “the excessive taxation of goods and services ends with Brazil.”

“What is essential? It is essential that the State has the conditions to protect the population. It is essential that there is this provision in the law. The essential thing is to define what is essential. And what is essential is Brazil and the Brazilians. The National Congress, starting with the Chamber of Deputies, I am sure, will always be – as it always has been – in favor of what is essential for our country. And this week, this will be essentially clear,” Arthur Lira posted on Twitter.

“Either Brazil ends with the excessive taxation of essential goods and services, or the excessive taxation of goods and services ends with Brazil,” he added.

Last Thursday, May 19, Lira said that the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies would vote on May 24 on a bill that establishes a ceiling for ICMS collection for products such as fuel and energy.

He said that the Supplementary Law Project (PLP) 18/22 changes the classification of fuels, electricity, telecommunications, and transportation to essential goods and services. The ICMS would have a maximum collection rate of 17% with the change.

Before the vote, however, Lira will meet with party leaders to discuss the issue.

The announcement occurred the same week that Lira said the Chamber should discuss a bill that would suspend the already announced increases in electricity bills in some states in 2022.

The congressman participated in a meeting with the Minister of Mines and Energy, Adolfo Sachsida, and representatives from Aneel to talk about the issue and the progress of a bill, PDL 94/22, which seeks to suspend the 23.99% increase in electricity bills in Ceará.

With information from CNN