Lula’s retreat from taxing purchases of US$ 50 irritates businessmen – 04/18/2023 – Panel SA

Lula’s decision not to end the exemption for imported orders of up to US$ 50 revolted sectors of the business community that defend the taxation of foreign ecommerces.

The government’s retreat will trigger a wave of unemployment, according to Mauro Francis, president of Ablos (an association that brings together mall stores). For him, the government withdrew from the measure for fear of losing popularity.

“What is more unpopular: the consumer paying R$ 7 or R$ 15 of a tax that he should already be paying or having another 4 million or 6 million unemployed? Let’s see what the government thinks is best”, says Francis.

For Synesio Batista, president of Abrinq, one of the spokespersons for the movement of entrepreneurs that has been calling for the taxation of imported ecommerces since last year, the government is encouraging the deindustrialization of the country.

“There was no negative reaction from society. [reclamação] network concept. People are not aware that they are unemployed in the country. We don’t know the reasons. This happens after returning from the trip to China and we have to respect the government’s decisions, but I didn’t see a negative reaction from society”, says the president of Abrinq.

Batista defends that, if it does not tax the imported ones, the government should exempt the national production.

The retreat was defined by Lula’s determination during a meeting with the economic team on Monday night (17). He said that the end of the exemption would reach the low-income and lower-middle class population. It was also pointed out that higher income sectors can travel abroad to purchase imported products, with a quota of up to US$ 1,000.

Lula complained that the new measure had been announced without the approval of the Civil House and had damaged the government’s image. One of the president’s thermometers was First Lady Janja, who engaged in networks against critics of the measure and is pointed out by allies as one of the pieces in the outcome of the impasse.

Joana Cunha with Paulo Ricardo Martins It is Diego Felix

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