Therefore,
Brazil: sao paulo, huge market:
“Sorry to disturb you, but what are you looking for?”: Man challenges passers-by and presents them with a menu. Consequently, No dish to offer. Meanwhile, but watches, sneakers or shirts of famous brands, in a market accused by Washington of being a high place in counterfeiting.
The man calls himself “Alemao 25” (German 25). Nevertheless, is about 30 years old and works as a tout in the rue du 25-March in Sao Paulo. Therefore,
This popular market. In addition, one of the largest in Latin America, has been under the spotlight since the publication on Tuesday of a report by the government of US President Donald Trump.
“The rue du 25-Mars sector has been one of the largest markets for counterfeit products for decades for decades. Therefore, ” according to this report, which brazil: sao paulo, huge market criticizes Brazil shortcomings to “intellectual property protection”.
All this. Similarly, while the United States opened this week an investigation into supposed “unfair commercial practices” of Brazil, a few days after the announcement by Mr. Trump punitive customs duties of 50% on Brazilian products from August 1.
“Piracy is not a crime, it’s business,” Alemao 25 told AFP with a smile.
In the historic center of Sao Paulo. a district that is both vibrant and underprivileged of the largest megalopolis in Latin America, rue du 25-March and its surroundings attract around 200,000 people per day who came to shop in more than 3,000 establishments listed in 17 streets, according to the Union of Traders.
In the maze of its shopping galleries. its stalls in the street, “the 25”, as it is called here, offers – basically and detailed – national or imported products, brazil: sao paulo, huge market authentic or counterfeit, excellent or poor quality.
Electronics. clothes, perfumes, jewelry, textiles, toys, alcohol, sex toys and more: the inhabitants of Sao Paulo like to say that “if you do not find something in the 25, you will find it anywhere”.
– “same quality. best price” –
“Trump’s customs duties are (Jair) Bolsonaro’s fault is pure political policy,” said Anderson Ferreira, 52 -year -old electronics seller.
Donald Trump justified the customs threat against Brazil by invoking an alleged “witch hunt” against his Brazilian ally. former far -right president Jair Bolsonaro. The latter is tried for an alleged coup attempt in 2022 aimed at preventing the inauguration of the current. left -wing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Conversely. for Victor Felicio, a 29 -year -old restaurateur who came to shop, “it was Lula’s fault, who faced Trump and welcomed the brazil: sao paulo, huge market BRICS” recently at a top of the block of emerging countries in Rio de Janeiro.
In the rue du 25-Mars, a shopping center for a century, many sellers prefer not to speak to the press. Many come from Chinese and Syro-Lebanese communities and some say they don’t speak Portuguese.
“If in the United States they criticize us. it is because they know nothing, because the products from here they call + false + are the same as other stores sell as authentic, with the same quality and a better price,” says Juliana, a 29-year-old perfume saleswoman.
Other traders. who, as they refuse to give their names, repeat the same argument: many products are not counterfeit, but come from smuggling.
Counterfeits. smuggling cause annual damage to Brazil of around $ 75 billion – around 4% of GDP -, in tax losses for the brazil: sao paulo, huge market State and in turnover for companies in good standing, according to the Brazilian association fighting against counterfeiting.
In a press release. the union of merchants on rue du 25-Mars, however, affirms that “the vast majority of merchants in the area act in a legal and transparent manner”.
Their products “are mainly imported from China and have no connection with the United States,” insists the organization.
“One of the two largest powers in the world is worried about rue du 25-March …”, quipped Lula’s chief of staff, Rui Costa.
Indifferent to the trade war. Maria Pauline, an employee of 61 -year -old house, will continue to come as “almost every week”. “Here it’s always cheaper.”
Posted on July 19 at 10:46 a.m., AFP
Brazil: sao paulo, huge market
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