Brazil's shoemaking and tanning industry will benefit from raising its domestic import tariffs

The new Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said that in order to protect its own economy, it is planning to increase import tariffs. The Brazilian footwear and tanning industry may benefit.

According to Paulo Skaf, the leader of the Brazilian Manufacturing Union, he learned in a recent meeting with Minister of Industry Development and Foreign Trade Fernando Pimentel that the government has agreed to take measures such as investment to protect its own economy. It has also proposed that the President increase the import tariff on some products, including footwear and leather.

Skaf believes that the introduction of such measures is imperative. According to statistics, Brazil’s trade deficit in industrial manufactured goods reached US$72 billion in 2010. If no action is taken, the deficit in 2011 may be close to US$100 billion. Skaf said that in the face of the current situation, we must formulate effective measures to curb imports, or the trade deficit of industrial manufactured goods will continue to expand.