Brazil gov’t deliberates on tariff changes, new anti-dumping measures

The Executive Management Committee of Brazil’s Foreign Trade Chamber (Gecex) convened on Thursday (October 17) to deliberate on several requests regarding adjustments to import tariffs, the granting and exclusion of ex-tariffs, and the application of anti-dumping measures on products entering the country at unfair prices, which harm domestic industry.

The tariff reductions targeted products either not produced domestically or produced in insufficient quantities to meet local demand. Among the items with reduced tariffs are:

• Electric motors for blenders and food processors, with a reduction from 18% to 0%;
• Acrylonitrile, primarily used as a raw material for the production of other chemicals, with its tariff reduced from 10.8% to 0% due to a temporary lack of domestic production;
• Polyester yarns, used in technical fabrics, tires, grills, tarps, PVC laminates, and sewing threads, also reduced from 18% to 0%;
• Glyphosate, a herbicide used in crops such as rice, corn, soybeans, beans, sugarcane, grapes, and coffee, extended for an additional six months at a reduced rate of 10.8% to 3.8%.

On the other hand, tariffs were increased for products whose rising imports have negatively impacted domestic production. These include:

• Sodium chlorite, with an increase from 9% to 10.8%;
• Iron and steel products, requested by SICETEL (National Union of Wire Drawing and Metal Rolling Industries), with an import tariff increase to 25%;
• Optical cables and fibers, with import duties rising from 11.2% and 9.6%, respectively, to 35% for a six-month period.

Anti-Dumping Measures

In terms of trade defense, Gecex approved four temporary anti-dumping measures and one definitive ruling.

A five-year definitive anti-dumping measure was imposed on imports of non-surgical gloves from China, Malaysia, and Thailand. The surcharges on these imports will range from $1.86 to $33.52 per thousand units.

Earlier this year, in February, Gecex had already approved provisional duties on non-surgical gloves from these countries after preliminary investigations confirmed the existence of dumping and its harmful impact on Brazilian manufacturers. This decision was corroborated by the final findings.

Provisional anti-dumping measures have become frequently employed by the Brazilian government as part of a broader effort to crack down on unfair trade practices and bolster protection for domestic industries.

At Thursday’s meeting, provisional duties were imposed on the importation of four additional products:

• Metallic sheets from Chinese companies, with surcharges ranging from $257.97 to $341.28 per tonne;
• Nebulizers from Chinese companies, with duties between $0.83 and $2.62 per unit;
• Titanium dioxide pigments (rutile type, used in paints, cosmetics, food, etc.) from Chinese firms, with surcharges between $577.33 and $1,772.69 per tonne;
• Polyester fibers from China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, with surcharges ranging from $68.32 to $397.04 per tonne.

In all cases, the provisional anti-dumping duties will remain in effect for up to six months.

Source: Informativo dos Portos

Original news article available at: https://www.informativodosportos.com.br/gecex-promove-alteracoes-tarifarias-e-aplicacao-de-medidas-antidumping/

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