Brazil Partially Reverses Tech Import Hike, Puts Smartphones Back to 16%

Overview

• The Gecex/Camex board restored previous rates for 15 information‑technology items and zeroed import tariffs for 105 BK/BIT products.
• Smartphones return to a 16% import duty instead of the planned 20%, with notebooks and other peripherals also reverting to prior rates.
• Only a slice of the early‑February hike was rolled back, covering roughly 10% of the about 1,200 affected items, with most higher tariffs still in force.
• Many of the 105 items keep zero tariffs during a 120‑day review under the ex‑tarifário process, and officials signaled further case‑by‑case revisions in March.
• The government cites protection of domestic industry and projects up to R$14 billion in 2026 revenue, while the Senate’s IFI estimates R$20 billion and an MDIC official projects a near‑zero consumer price effect of about 0.04%.