The plenary of the Chamber of Deputies approved on Thursday the base text of the provisional measure that ends the "little blouses" tax, the 20% charge on international purchases of up to US$ 50. The inclusion of the PM on the voting agenda was made possible thanks to a political agreement between the leadership of the Legislative branch and the Presidential Palace. Deputies are still analyzing suggestions for changes before the text goes to the Senate.
The measure represents one of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's (PT) main electoral campaign promises for his re-election bid. The issue generated internal division within the Presidential Palace throughout 2025, placing ministers on opposite sides of the question.
On one side, then Finance Minister Fernando Haddad expressed concern about the backlash from the productive sector if the tax were removed. On the other side, Minister Sidônio Palmeira, from the Presidential Secretariat for Social Communication (Secom), advocated for eliminating the charge as a way to gain voter support.
Given the assessment that maintaining the charge could politically harm Lula, the measure was reversed this year, culminating in the Chamber of Deputies' approval of the base text.
