Brazil puts temporary stop on planned imports

Brazil’s plan to address a shortage of Robusta beans through imports from Vietnam has been put on hold due to an outcry from farmers. Brazil’s President, Michael Termer was forced to backflip on the plan just days after it was announced due to the fierce pushback from the nation’s coffee farmers. Brazil’s Robusta crop has been hit by two consecutive years of drought, prompting the nation’s instant coffee industry to push for imports from Vietnam to fill what they say will be a shortfall in supply. However Brazil’s Robusta farmers say that there is enough domestic supply to meet demand and any move to allow imports would harm their industry, both through the potential introduction of pests and an increased pressure on prices.s