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Table 3.6 Import prohibitions, 2017
Product Description Legal basis
Endangered animals and plants Animals and plants listed as endangered by CITES Decree No. 3,607 of 21 September 2001
Hazardous waste Import ban; other movements must follow Basel Convention procedures National Environment Council (Concelho Nacional do Meio Ambiente – CONAMA) Resolution No. 452 of 2 July 2012
(...)
Substances that deplete the ozone layer Prohibited substances in accordance with the Montreal Protocol CONAMA Resolution No. 267 of 11 December 2000
(...)

(...) During 2013-16, the main additions to the list of imports subject to non-automatic licensing included endangered species (some 200 tariff lines) and several manufactured goods (i.e. automotive parts). (...)

(...) According to the authorities, the purpose of non-automatic licensing is to prevent environmental damage and harm to human, plant or animal health, as well as to control imports of products classified as weapons and products subject to tariff quotas or trade remedies. (...)

Brazil maintains export prohibitions for environmental protection reasons, and in compliance with international agreements and United Nations resolutions. The list of export prohibitions includes raw leather of amphibians and reptiles, as well as certain organic chemicals (if exported to non-signatories of the Montreal Protocol). Exports of wood in the rough (HS 4403) are suspended, unless approved by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA).

Export authorization or licensing requirements remain in place for a relatively large number of products, mainly for safety, health, security, environmental, or native fauna protection reasons. Prior authorization is required for each export shipment, but the authorities note that forthcoming changes in the context of Brazil's Single Window Programme (Section 3.1.1) would relax this requirement, once SISCOMEX is redesigned for differential treatment of export licences and authorizations.

(...) The main product categories requiring prior export authorization include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, wood products, and live animals. (...)

The fiscal and administrative benefits available to authorized EPZ companies, as well as their 20-year legal guarantee clause, also remain unchanged. [113] (...)

[113] Authorized EPZ companies may purchase local or imported goods and services with the suspension of import duties, the IPI, COFINS, PIS, and AFRMM. They are exempt from licensing and authorization requirements (at the federal level) for imports and exports, except for those related to sanitary controls, national security, and environmental protection. Additional fiscal benefits, including lower corporate income tax and accelerated depreciation, are available to enterprises located in the SUDENE and SUDAM areas.

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) remains in charge of coordinating and implementing policies for the promotion of Brazilian goods and services overseas, for the internationalization of Brazilian companies, and for attracting FDI. Although it supports companies of all sizes, Apex-Brasil maintains a particular focus on activities that help enhance exports of small and medium-size enterprises, foster competitiveness and create jobs. Other strategic priorities include: increasing the participation of Brazilian companies in international value chains; fostering innovation, design and technology transfer; and encouraging the use of "sociobiodiverse" resources. (...)

In Brazil, incentives and government assistance are available in various configurations, with programmes administered at both the federal and sub-federal levels. The scope of incentive programmes may be regional, sectoral or outcome-specific (e.g. fostering research). Most initiatives seek to promote entrepreneurship, technological and infrastructure upgrades, innovation, exports (Section 3.2.4), energy efficiency, and regional development. Specific federal programmes are in place for the automotive, information technology, aeronautics, and petroleum industries (Section 4). The range of support measures includes: targeted long-term loans ; tax incentives; non-repayable financial contributions; equity financing; accelerated depreciation; guarantees; grants; advisory services; and credit insurance.

Table 3.13 Subsidy programmes notified to the WTO, 2011 and 2012
Type Programmes Forms of support Amount (R$ million)
2011 2012
(...)
Fisheries Programme for economic subvention to the price of diesel oil used by fishing vessels; Programme for financing the enlargement and modernization of national fishing fleet (PROFROTA)a Fuel price support (equalization); loan performance bonus (interest payment discount) 17.2 2.8