Brazil proposes protectionist measures

Brazil is considering raising the tariff on wine imports to protect its domestic wine industry.

Proposals were announced in mid-March to hinder the expansion of imported wine into the fast-growing economy using measures such as increasing tariffs from 27% to 55% and introducing country by county quotas.

Other measures suggested included imposing a minimum price, and making Portuguese front labels compulsory as well as banning terms such as organic and biodynamic.

Writing to the drinks business, Paul Medder, who is based in Rio de Janeiro and works for Wine Intelligence, warned of these efforts to “safeguard” national wine production as part of a consultation by the Brazilian Ministry for Development Industry and Trade (MDIC), opened on 15 March.

He explained that a circular had been issued claiming that….