The Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, said on Friday (24) that the government can reduce import tax to cheapen the price of certain foods in the Brazilian market. According to him, studies are already being done to ensure parity with international prices.
“The price forms in the market, the market is competitive. If we have become cheaper to import these products, there will be several economic factors on the market importing these products, because it has a price difference and therefore will see a profit to gain. They will import and help lower the price of the internal product at least at the international price, ”he said, after a meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Planalto Palace.
The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, recalled that similar measure was adopted last year to hold rice prices and ensure supply after floods in Rio Grande do Sul. The state accounts for 70% of the national offer of the product. At the time, the Rice import tariff was zeroed.
“We don’t want to do any heterodox intervention. But if we are food exporters, our food can’t be more expensive here than it is out there. So, punctually, it can be confirmed, the rates to be lowered so that this product at least earns the international parity that governs the market, ”he said.
THE President Lula coordinated meetingin the Planalto Palace, to discuss ways to lower the price of food in the country. The theme gained centrality in the government this week, when the Lula stated at a ministerial meeting that this is the priority of management in 2025.
Production
Rui Costa stressed that there will be no adoption of heterodox measures, such as subsidy, state supermarket, commercialization of food with deadlines, freezing or price tabulation, nor inspection in markets.
The main performance, according to him, will be in the encouragement of local agricultural production, with attention to existing public policies and resources and focus on foods that reach the table of the population. With favorable climate, there is already expectation of grain recordaccording to the National Supply Company (Conab), with an increase of 8% to 10% in production.
Again, Fávaro remembered the initiatives for increase rice production in the countrylast year. “For this year, rice production should be 12% to 13% higher than last year, so rice prices gave way, if they did not reach the ideal levels of the Brazilian population, but are already much smaller than they were in the past recent. So it’s a natural process of stimulating production, ”he said.
Tickets
Rui Costa also said that the Ministry of Finance will study ways to reduce the cost of intermediation of the Worker Food Program (PAT). Yesterday (23), the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, had already commented on the measure, the possibility of reducing rates Meal and food valleys to cheaper food.
“The essence of this measure will be reduced, therefore, if possible to zero, if not at a rate substantially lower than what the worker pays today to use his card,” said Rui Costa. “Technically, if this benefit will reach the worker without losing 10% of the food value, there are 22 million workers who receive this benefit, and evident, if this amount is with the worker, this will become an improvement in their purchasing power When it comes to making the supermarket, ”he added.
