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The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, said that food prices should fall. However, he expressed concern about two specific items that continue to rise: coffee and eggs, essential on the tables of Brazilians.
The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, stated this Friday (21) that he expects a drop in food prices in the coming months. However, he expressed concern about two specific items: coffee and eggs.
During an interview on the podcast Inteligência Ltda., Haddad highlighted that global demand for coffee has been increasing and this may pressure prices in Brazil. “There are some items that require more caution. For example, the increase in global demand for coffee inspires caution,” he said.
Possible Speculation in the Egg Market
The minister also pointed out possible distortions in the egg market. According to him, although Brazil exports little of this product, the internal price may be affected by other factors.
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“Eggs are another concern… We export few eggs. Our egg exports are very small, but there may be market concentration, there may be speculation on the price,” he stated.
To better understand the scenario, Haddad said that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has already called on the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agrarian Development.
The guidance is to investigate the factors influencing the increase in egg prices in the country.
Factors That May Help Reduce Prices
Despite the concerns, Haddad maintained an optimistic view of the overall scenario.
He mentioned two points that should help relieve prices: the current harvest of the agricultural crop and the appreciation of the real against the dollar.
According to the minister, these two factors tend to improve the supply of food and reduce import costs, contributing to the decline in prices for consumers.
Lula Stopped Tax on International Purchases of Up to US$ 50
In the same podcast, Haddad also revealed that he attempted to create a tax on international purchases of up to US$ 50 through an ordinance, but was prevented by President Lula.
“This tax could have been charged by my ordinance because import tax is regulatory. It wasn’t done because Lula didn’t let me do it. I’m being sincere, I wanted to do it. We had a meeting and he said: I don’t want to. There is already ICMS and I won’t do that,” he stated.
Haddad explained that the import tax is regulatory and would not require congressional approval. Even so, Lula decided not to move forward with the measure. According to the president, the ICMS would already be sufficient.
The minister also reminded that the collection of ICMS on these purchases was initiated by the governors themselves, including those in opposition. “Who charged tax on the little blouses? It was the 27 governors with ICMS,” he concluded.
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