Brazilian companies that export to Venezuela have reported difficulty in completing commercial negotiations with the nearby country
The Brazilian companies that export to Venezuela reported, last week, the difficulties in completing commercial negotiations with the nearby country.
This is because Venezuela would have withdrawn an expected tax benefit in a bilateral agreement signed by the countries in 2012.
The Federation of the Industries of the State of Roraima (Fier) states that, from 18 July, it has received reports from entrepreneurs surprised by the accusation of rates for the import of previously exempt Brazilian products.
“We have received information directly from entrepreneurs because we are responsible for the issue of the original certificates, which ensure that Brazilian products have a zero rate in Venezuela. But also with the certificate, the products are charged,” said Ivan Gonzalo, stronger analyst of foreign trade.
In a declaration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mre) declared that he followed, in coordination with the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MICCO), the relations of Brazilian exporters in Venezuela.
“The Brazilian embassy in Caracas is investigating, with the managers of the Venezuelan authorities, elements to clarify the nature of the situation, for the purpose of normalization of fluidity in bilateral trade, governed by the economic complement agreement n. 69 (ACE 69), which forbids the collection of taxes on imports between the two countries.”
The ace 69, signed during the Venezuela entrance process in Mercosur, guarantees a zero rate for hundreds of products exported between the two countries, provided that they are accompanied by a certificate of origin. The country, however, was suspended from the blockade in 2017.
The reports sent by the Chamber of Commerce of La Guaira to the Venezuelan government show that, from 17 July, the country’s customs system has stopped applying the benefits provided for commercial agreements with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Already the Chamber of Commerce and the Brazilian Venezuelan industry of Roraima informed, in office to the Brazils’ ambassador to Caracas, that customs agents did not record the certificates of origin in the system, which made the tax charged.
“There has been no publication or warning by the Venezuelan government. So we still don’t know if it was a deliberate decision or a bureaucratic error,” said Gonzalo.
Local vehicles reported that the rates charged by the nearby country, previously exempt, range from 15% to 77%, but Fier did not confirm the amounts to the ratio.
“Whoever pays the rate is the importer, that is, the Venezuelan entrepreneur. Therefore, so far we have no accurate information on the type of taxation or what the percentage would be,” explained the federation analyst.
With the uncertainty on the amounts charged, the Brazilian companies would temporarily suspend shipments in Venezuela.
“In practice, many importers have requests paralyzed while they do not understand which fare will pay. It affects the entire chain,” said Gonzalo.
Commercial volume with Venezuela
In 2024, the trade between Brazil and Venezuela reached 1.6 billion dollars, being $ 1.2 billion of Brazilian exports, which represents only 0.4% of the total exported by the country. Among the main products marketed there are sugars and moves, edible products and preparations and corn.
The country has weight, however, for the exports of Roraima. In 2024, the state exported $ 313.9 million in goods. Of this amount, R $ 144.7 million were intended for the neighboring country – that is 46.1%.
The main products sold are foods, such as soy oil, margarine, wheat flour and dairy compounds -caseari, many of which are produced in other states, but drained by companies based in Roraima.
“Despite being in crisis, Venezuela remains a large customer, in particular for northern Brazil. With the interruption of the local production sector, the country has acquired food and basic products from Brazil. It is an important partner,” said Gonzalo.
“It is essential that Brazil quickly begin a diplomatic dialogue to remove these barriers. Even if they seem punctual, they must be treated in the rules of international agreements signed between the two countries.”
Fier said he had already reported the problem to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mdic.
“Now it is up to the federal government to seek explanations from the Venezuelan authorities. It is not yet clear what motivated this accusation, nor is there a non -compliance with ACE 69.”
The government of Roraima declared in a declaration that follows the concern of information on the increase in the tax rate to valuem by the Venezuelan government, which directly affects the products of Brazilian origin exported by Roraima.
“Any measure that deals with Brazilian products in the Venezuelan market significantly affects the competitiveness of our goods, with a direct impact on local entrepreneurs, in the agri -food countryside, in the creation of jobs and, consequently, on state revenues”, says the text.
BBC News Brazil contacted the Venezuela Embassy in Brazil. Until the publication of this report, there has been no official response on the adoption of rates or the withdrawal of tax exemption for Brazilian products.
Source: Terra
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