Brazil government slashes port handling costs

Brazil’s federal government today (Jun 8) published a decree removing the so-called wharfage fee from the import tax calculation in a bid to promote “a commercial opening across the economy,” reducing import costs.

Wharfage covers the handling of goods in the facilities at a given port, including delivery, verification, internal transport, inspection of volumes at customs, handling, and stowage, as well as loading and unloading.

The decree changes a 2009 provision on the administration of customs activities, inspection, control, and taxing of foreign trade operations related to unloading and handling in the transport of imported goods.

In the new text, the expenses “incurred in domestic territory and detached from transport costs” are out of the calculation. The new rules are effective today.

According to the government, the measure “is in line with the international commitments entered by Brazil with Mercosur partners and the World Trade Organization.”