Fernando Haddad (PT), a candidate for governor of São Paulo and former Minister of Finance, said the "taxa das blusinhas" began as a retail sector request.

The statement clarifies the origin of a contentious tax measure during a period of economic volatility for Brazilian imports and exports. It seeks to distance the federal executive branch from the tax's implementation.

In an interview aired in July 2026 on CNN Brasil, Haddad said the measure did not have a revenue-raising objective and was instead introduced by the National Congress [1]. The "taxa das blusinhas" refers to taxes applied to low-value imports, often small clothing items.

Haddad said the retail sector requested the measure to protect domestic businesses from foreign competition [2]. This push occurred as the industry sought to mitigate the financial impact of a 25% [2] U.S. tariff on Brazilian textile imports.

According to reports from O Globo, the proposal was taken up by the National Congress rather than the federal executive for political reasons [2]. This shift in authorship allowed the legislative branch to lead the policy change while the executive avoided the political fallout of introducing new taxes.

"A taxa das blusinhas foi um pedido do varejo, não partiu do governo federal," Haddad said in a statement published by O Globo [2]. The former minister said that the federal government did not initiate the policy to increase its own coffers [1].

The debate over the tax continues to influence the political landscape in São Paulo as Haddad campaigns for the governorship. The tension between protecting local retail and maintaining affordable consumer prices remains a central point of economic discussion in the region.

“"A taxa das blusinhas foi um pedido do varejo, não partiu do governo federal."”

By attributing the tax to the retail sector and the National Congress, Haddad is attempting to neutralize a potential political liability during his campaign for governor. The 25% US tariff on textiles created a precarious environment for Brazilian producers, forcing a choice between protecting domestic industry through import taxes or maintaining low prices for consumers. This framing shifts the narrative from government-led taxation to a necessary defense of the national economy against external trade pressures.