Characterization of the tariff policy applied to the dairy sector in Brazil / Caracterização da política tarifária aplicada ao setor de lácteos no Brasil

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

In the past 20 years, the Brazilian dairy sector has been increasing its production and productive levels, despite the international market price distortions that has a negative effect on the efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of the sector. In an attempt to minimize these distortions and at the same time stimulate the national production, Brazil has adopted a trade policy based on high tariffs for 11 dairy products. Nowadays these products tariffs are 27%, an exception to the tariff level established by MERCOSUR of 16%. Due to the programmed expiration of the MERCOSUR External Tariff Exception List in 2010, the Brazilian Government intends to maintain the policy protection for the dairy sector by the increase of the MERCOSUR tariff to 30% for these products. The aim of this study was to analyze the Brazilian tariff policy to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of this proposal to the development of the sector and the consumer welfare. This study was based on a literature review and on secondary data in order to diagnose the Brazilian and MERCOSUR tariff policy for dairy products considering its influence on trade, production and competitiveness of Brazilian products both in the national and international market in the past two decades. It also considered the political aspects involved in the Brazilian proposal of increasing these tariffs. The analyzis has shown that the elimination of the commercial barriers caused by the creation of MERCOSUR and the consequent exposition of the national market to the competition of important producers as Argentina and Uruguay contributed to price decreasing in Brazilian market and deviated the origin of Brazilian imports stimulating the competition in the sector. Now, the main challenges for the sector are related to the producers habilitation to operate in the international level, the search for new markets, the support for tariff reduction negotiations in importing markets. In addition, Brazil defends in WTO the expansion of agricultural trade through higher tariff cuts. In conclusion, the Brazilian powdered milk might be competitive in all three tariffs analyzed (27%,30% e 16%), when considering the average price practiced by the biggest dairy market in the international commerce.

ASSUNTO(S)

mercosul trade and tariff dairy products leite agronomia mercosur comércio e tarifa lácteos milk

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