Taxing time European and Brazilian leather trade representatives
Import and export duties were high on the agenda at a recent meeting between representatives of the European and Brazilian leather industries, reflecting the greater levels of trade anticipated between the two continents in the wake of Europe’s problems with BSE and Foot and Mouth Disease.
Held during April at the 25th edition of Fimec – the Brazilian International Leather and Shoe Machines, Equipment and Component Fair - the meeting was attended by Robert Crouzet, president of the European Commission for Leather and Skins and Jose Roberto Scarabel, president of CICB - the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry. The vice president of CICB, Amadeu Fernandes, was also present.
The main theme of the meeting was Brazil’s 9% export duty on wet blue hides and the EU’s 6.5% import tax on both wet blue and crust from Brazil. Last year, Brazil exported approximately 7.5 million hides to Europe with a turnover of US$ 380 million. According to Scarabel, exports to Europe can be expected to increase by 5%-9% in volume and 20%-25% in turnover during the remainder of 2001.
