President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a provisional measure on Tuesday to zero the 20% federal tax on international purchases up to US$50. The decision, announced at the Planalto Palace, takes immediate effect after publication in the Official Gazette. State ICMS tax continues to apply.
The so-called blusinhas tax was created in 2024 and applied a 20% import tax on orders from platforms like Shein, Shopee and AliExpress. Lula issued the provisional measure after internal government debates and consumer criticism.
Entities such as Abit, Abvtex and Fiemg rejected the decision. They claim the exemption creates unfair competition with national companies and could lead to job losses and reduced investments.
The PT celebrated the repeal. Party leaders are considering using the topic in communication strategies for the electoral campaign. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro congratulated Lula but suggested political motivation.
According to IFI, the tax raised R$1.7 billion from January to April 2026. The projection for the year was R$5 billion to R$6 billion.
