The Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade has re-instated the export duty on wet blue to 9%, from the current level of 7%. The increase had been requested by the Brazilian Association of Tanners of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (AICSul) in an attempt to encourage the production of higher added-value leather, which would generate jobs and increase revenues.

If the measure had not been taken, as of January 2007, the duty would have dropped to 4% from the current 7%.