President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned this Thursday the provisional measure that ends the so-called "taxa das blusinhas", the 20% charge on international purchases of up to US$ 50. The ceremony occurred at the Palácio do Planalto.
Lula classified the removal of the charge as a "reparation" to consumers and challenged the argument that the measure would only benefit the poorest people. The president stated that the middle class also buys these products and that the measure is for everyone who likes to make this type of purchase.
With this change, orders of up to US$ 50 will no longer pay the 20% federal rate. However, the removal of the charge does not reach the ICMS, a state tax that continues to apply to these purchases. The legislation maintains the simplified regime for goods of up to US$ 3,000 per shipment.
Lula stated that the charge had been created after an agreement, but the text of the provisional measure was sanctioned with vetoes that have not yet been detailed.
