The proposal analyzed by the government to reduce food import tariffs to zero faces resistance from the ruralist group in the National Congress.
that the government is studying the removal of the tariff, members of the Agricultural Parliamentary Front (FPA) began discussing the matter via WhatsApp.
Overall, the group of parliamentarians sees that the measure could impact small producers with external competition and little effect on cheaper supermarkets.
Among the examples cited is coffee. Brazil has 330 thousand coffee farmers, 280 thousand of which are small coffee farmers, 78% of them with less than 20 hectares.
Agribusiness representatives in Congress also assess that there are already European countries, for example, that subsidize farmers.
The exemption and subsidies would be “unfair” competition.
“If production conditions and costs are similar around the world, how can an imported product be more expensive? It’s a sign that we pay a lot of taxes to produce or that those outside have subsidies”, said deputy Zé Vitor (PL-MG), member of bench.
Parliamentarians also claim that they have a bench that could collaborate with the proposals but that they were not contacted.
Another government argument refuted by congressmen is that Brazil does not have enough food supply.
“The lack of control in inflation is what harms families, not rural producers, not food producers. Measures without debate and planning hardly achieve the expected results,” said the deputy.
