Rice: Camex eliminates import taxes to guarantee supply

The Executive Management Committee (Gecex) of the Chamber of Foreign Trade (Camex) zeroed tariffs for three types of rice: two non-parboiled and one polished/burnished type. As a result, these products will no longer have to pay Import Tax to enter the country. The decision is contained in resolution of Gecex/Camex and was published in the Official Gazette of the Union this Tuesday (21).

The objective of the measure is to guarantee the supply of rice amid the problems caused by the floods that hit Rio Grande do Sul. The state accounts for 70% of the grain’s supply in the country.

The three types of rice were included in the Mercosur List of Exceptions to the Common External Tariff (Letec), following a request from Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the National Supply Company (Conab).

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The measure is valid until December 31st. The Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex) of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services will be responsible for monitoring the situation to reassess the validity period, if necessary.

Today, the majority of rice imports in Brazil come from Mercosur, without paying import tariffs. According to the Mdic, the decision to reset the tax rate opens up space for the purchase of rice from other large producers, such as Thailand. Until April 2024, the Asian country was responsible for 18.2% of Brazilian rice imports.