Brazil may restore the blusinhas import tax

Why might Brazil bring back the blusinhas tax?

Finance Minister Dario Durigan signalled on Monday that the government is actively monitoring import volumes after abolishing the so-called "blusinhas tax" in May. If data shows that cheap imports from platforms such as Shein, Shopee and AliExpress are damaging Brazilian manufacturers, he is prepared to propose a reversal to President Lula.

What exactly happened in May 2026?

President Lula issued a Provisional Measure (MP) that zeroed the 20% import duty on purchases up to US $50 made on international e-commerce sites. The move was widely seen as electorally motivated, and it drew immediate criticism from Brazilian industry groups who argued it created an uneven playing field.

How does the US tariff situation add pressure?

The tariff hikes introduced by the Donald Trump administration have intensified the concern. Brazilian manufacturers argue that Asian goods, redirected away from the US market, are now flooding Brazil at ultra-low prices, making the case for restoring some form of duty even stronger. Industry lobbying in Congress to reverse or compensate for the zero-rate decision has intensified as a result.

What is the government's current approach?

Durigan described a "sampling period" — essentially a data-collection phase — to measure the real impact of scrapping the tax. He emphasised that mechanisms are already in place to detect abnormal import spikes, meaning a policy change could be proposed quickly if needed.

What does this mean for e-commerce sellers and shoppers?

For now, the zero-rate remains in force, so cross-border purchases under US $50 enter Brazil duty-free. However, sellers and consumers should treat this as a temporary window: the minister's statements suggest the door to reinstating the tax is clearly open.