Faced with commercial tensions between China and the United States, the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), said that the state already acts to protect its industry and that the main instrument available is tax policy. “The main (protective) form is via tax issue. So we have to continue what we are doing,” he said, citing spending cutting measures and privatization implemented in recent years. “This gives us room to promote tax relief,” he added.
Tarcísio’s statements were made at a news conference during a visit to the headquarters of the CANAVIEIRA TECHNOLOGY Center (CTC), in Piracicaba (SP), on Tuesday. He pondered, however, that St. Paul cannot act alone in the face of international challenges. “We are 30% of the Brazilian economy, so we also depend on national movements,” he said.
Even so, the governor sees opportunities for the São Paulo productive sector in the face of the reconfiguration of global trade. “We can replace imports with speed, in some sectors. It is a window that we need to enjoy,” he said, noting that the state government will continue to monitor the consequences of negotiations between the two largest economies in the world.
In the energy field, Tarcisio adopted optimistic tone and said that the moment is favorable for Brazil to gain global protagonism, especially in the renewable sector. “From the moment we have a global actor who rejects the energy transition, an opportunity opens for Brazil to win protagonism and new markets,” he said, referring indirectly to the US government.
*The reporter traveled at the invitation of the CTC
