Fighting over the tops! 

Brazilian senators this week approved the taxation of international online purchases of up to USD 50, causing outrage among citizens. Changes to the original bill mean that the discussion will continue, requiring the lower house’s approval. 

The back and forth on taxing small international purchases — known as the taxa das brusinhas, or “little tops tax” — has been drawn out, with Brazilian retailers desperate for their best-selling East Asian competitors to face higher taxes, but consumers complaining that the measure will only affect Brazil’s poor people, claiming companies and the government won’t feel a significant difference with increased tax. 

The widespread criticism does not just come from people opposing the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In fact, many of Lula’s voters are opposed to it too, asking the government to intervene and overturn the measure — though it no longer has the means to.

Now, consumers are trying to create new alternatives to buy affordable items from abroad, as the Brazilian appetite for cheap fast-fashion from East Asia is unlikely to disappear any time soon. 

As far as we know, the fight for the tops will continue, as will the government’s challenges.

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