The Parliamentary Front for Agriculture (FPA) received, this Tuesday (28), the rapporteur of the Working Group on Tax Reform, MP Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-PB). In a meeting held at the headquarters of the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA), the members of the bench debated the proposed amendment to the Constitution being discussed in the National Congress. The president of the FPA, the deputy Pedro Lupion (PP-PR), underlined the importance of preserving the balance to simplify the tax system without harming the agricultural sector of the country.

“We want to support tax reform and to support it, we cannot be hurt. With this, we start from the need for people to understand what the Brazilian production system means”, explained Pedro Lupion. The parliamentarian points out that the UN has already presented data with eight billion people to feed in the world and that “Brazil is the only country that can triple its production to guarantee food security”.

The MP also pointed out that “the claim that agro is undertaxed is false and a war of stories. We are taxed throughout the production chain. Whether in the purchase of seeds, defensive, at the time of contribution, in equipment, in fuels, in labor legislation,” he said.

Lupion mentions that the sector accounts for a third of the national GDP, 25% of jobs and most of the country’s exports. “Agro must be heard, respected and, above all, must have the opportunity to present their concerns about this upcoming tax reform,” he added.

Deputy Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-PB), rapporteur of the working group on tax reform in the Chamber, said that the construction of the proposal is a compilation of what was discussed in the Joint Commission for Tax Reform , in public hearings held before the pandemic, still in early 2020.

“We need a text that represents the majority of the House’s thoughts. We are not going to be unanimous”, declared Aguinaldo, also specifying that “he is attentive and open to collecting the concerns of the agro”, he declared. According to the rapporteur, the agricultural sector will be able to collaborate with a simpler, more transparent and more equitable system, which allows the creation of jobs and income.

The meeting was also attended by the coordinator of the WG on tax reform, the deputy Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG), the parliamentarians of the FPA, the president of the CNA, João Martins, and the deputy Baleia Rossi (MDB-SP), author of the proposed Constitutional Amendment (PEC) 45, which creates a single tax on goods and services.

The working group created by the mayor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), to discuss tax reform has 12 members. MPs who are part of the team will be able to hold public hearings and meetings with civil society bodies and entities within 90 days. At the end of this phase, the report of deputy Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-PB) will be presented for analysis to the National Congress.