The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, justified this Wednesday (25) the increase in import taxes on more than a thousand products, including smartphones and industrial equipment. According to him, the measure has a regulatory nature and seeks to “protect national production”.
According to Haddad, more than 90% of the affected items are manufactured in Brazil, which reduces the impact on the consumer.
“What is the objective? Bringing this company to the national territory. It has no impact, except on the protection of national production”, stated the minister after returning from a trip to India and South Korea, where he accompanied President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The adjustment, already decided by the government, could increase tariffs by up to 7.2 percentage points, affecting sectors that depend on international purchases. Part of the new percentages has already come into force; the rest comes into effect from March.
Haddad highlighted that the standard itself allows revisions by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (Mdic), including with possibility of reducing or zeroing the fareif necessary. However, the measure could reinforce federal cash by R$14 billion per year, helping the government to meet the 2026 fiscal target: primary surplus of R$34.3 billion, with tolerance for zero results and surplus of R$68.6 billion.
Sectors affected
In addition to smartphones, the tax increase affects machines and equipment such as boilers, generators, turbines, industrial furnaces, industrial robots, forklifts, tractors, drilling platforms, ships, magnetic resonance imaging devices, CT scanners and laboratory equipment.
The announcement generated criticism from the opposition and business sectors, which warned of a possible increase in costs and an impact on prices. The government, in turn, maintains that the initiative corrects distortions and strengthens the industry installed in the country.
Smartphones
In the case of cell phones, the Mdic reported that the measure does not affect devices produced in Brazil, which represent 95% of the national market in 2025. Only 5% are imported.
Among the main brands, Xiaomi may be impacted by not manufacturing in the country. Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Jovi, Realme and Oppo would not be affected, according to the government.
The decision maintains zero tariffs for imported components that do not have similar production in Brazil, a measure considered strategic to avoid making the local industry more expensive.
