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C1 noun 13 min read

em detrimento de

Examples
Explanation em detrimento de in your Level:
At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn Portuguese. You will learn simple words for everyday things like food, family, and directions. The phrase 'em detrimento de' is very advanced and complicated. You do not need to use it at this level. However, it is good to know what it means if you hear it on television or see it in a formal text. It means 'at the expense of' or 'causing harm to something else'. Imagine you have two toys, but you can only play with one. If you choose the red toy and throw the blue toy in the trash, you chose the red toy 'em detrimento do' blue toy. You favored one thing and hurt the other. For now, you should focus on simpler ways to say you prefer something, like using the verb 'preferir' (to prefer). For example, 'Eu prefiro maçã a banana' (I prefer apples to bananas). Or you can use 'em vez de' (instead of), which is much easier. 'Eu como maçã em vez de banana' (I eat an apple instead of a banana). Do not worry about memorizing 'em detrimento de' right now. Just remember that it is a formal way of talking about making a choice that leaves something else behind or causes a disadvantage to the thing that was not chosen. Keep focusing on basic vocabulary and simple sentence structures. As you progress in your Portuguese journey, you will eventually learn how to use this advanced phrase correctly.
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At the A2 level, you can communicate in simple and routine tasks. You can describe your background, immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need. The phrase 'em detrimento de' is still quite advanced for everyday conversation at this stage. It means 'to the disadvantage of' or 'at the expense of'. You use it when someone chooses one thing, and because of that choice, another thing suffers or is neglected. For example, if a student studies all night and doesn't sleep, they are choosing to study 'em detrimento da' (at the expense of) their health. The studying is favored, and the health is harmed. While you might not use this phrase when talking to friends, you might start seeing it if you read simple news articles or listen to formal announcements. It is important to notice how it combines with the words 'o' and 'a'. It becomes 'em detrimento do' (for masculine words) and 'em detrimento da' (for feminine words). For your own speaking and writing, it is still safer and more natural to use simpler expressions. You can say 'Ele estudou muito e prejudicou a saúde' (He studied a lot and harmed his health) or 'Ele escolheu estudar em vez de dormir' (He chose to study instead of sleeping). Understanding 'em detrimento de' will help you comprehend more formal Portuguese, but do not feel pressured to use it in your daily conversations yet. Focus on expressing trade-offs and choices using simpler verbs and conjunctions.
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At the B1 level, you are becoming more independent in Portuguese. You can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters and can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. Now, the phrase 'em detrimento de' becomes more relevant, especially when you are reading the news, listening to podcasts, or trying to express more complex opinions. It translates to 'to the detriment of' or 'at the expense of'. This phrase is incredibly useful when you want to talk about the negative consequences of a choice or a policy. For instance, if you are discussing the environment, you might say, 'A cidade construiu um shopping em detrimento do parque' (The city built a mall at the expense of the park). This shows that the park was destroyed or neglected to make way for the mall. It is a step up from simply saying 'em vez de' (instead of), because 'em detrimento de' clearly communicates that harm or loss occurred to the second item. You must be careful to contract the preposition 'de' correctly: do, da, dos, das. Practice using this phrase when writing opinion essays or discussing current events. It will instantly make your Portuguese sound more mature and analytical. However, remember that it is still a formal expression. You wouldn't use it to say 'I bought chocolate at the expense of vanilla'. Save it for situations where there is a real, significant trade-off, sacrifice, or negative impact involved in the decision.
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At the B2 level, you achieve a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. You can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics. The phrase 'em detrimento de' is an essential tool in your vocabulary arsenal at this stage. It is perfect for debates, formal presentations, and writing detailed argumentative essays. It expresses the concept of prioritizing one element while actively causing disadvantage or harm to another ('at the expense of'). You will hear this frequently in professional environments, political discussions, and academic contexts. For example, 'A empresa focou no marketing em detrimento da qualidade do produto' (The company focused on marketing at the expense of product quality). Using this phrase demonstrates that you can articulate complex relationships between actions and their negative consequences. It shows a nuanced understanding of trade-offs. At this level, you should be fully comfortable with the required prepositional contractions (do, da, dos, das) and ensuring that the noun following the phrase is the one that suffers the negative consequence. You should also start recognizing and using its synonyms, such as 'em prejuízo de' or 'às custas de', to vary your vocabulary. Incorporating 'em detrimento de' into your active vocabulary will significantly elevate the sophistication of your arguments and help you sound more like an educated native speaker when discussing serious or complex topics.
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At the C1 level, you can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. You can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes. The expression 'em detrimento de' is a quintessential C1 vocabulary item. It is a formal, precise locution used to articulate complex opportunity costs, structural inequalities, and strategic sacrifices. It translates to 'to the detriment of' or 'at the expense of'. In advanced discourse, this phrase is crucial for critical analysis. You will use it to critique policies, analyze historical events, or evaluate business strategies. For example, 'A adoção de políticas de austeridade ocorreu em detrimento dos serviços públicos essenciais' (The adoption of austerity policies occurred to the detriment of essential public services). At this level, your use of the phrase should be flawless, including perfect automaticity with prepositional contractions (do, da, dos, das) and an intuitive understanding of the logical balance required in the sentence. The entity preceding the phrase is the beneficiary or the prioritized action, while the entity following it is the victim or the neglected component. You should also be adept at manipulating sentence structure for rhetorical effect, occasionally fronting the phrase: 'Em detrimento da segurança a longo prazo, optaram pelo lucro imediato' (To the detriment of long-term security, they opted for immediate profit). Mastery of this phrase and its nuances is expected in high-level academic writing, professional reports, and sophisticated intellectual debates.
At the C2 level, you have virtually no difficulty understanding any kind of spoken or written Portuguese. You can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. For a C2 speaker, 'em detrimento de' is not just a vocabulary word to be learned; it is a precise rhetorical instrument to be deployed with stylistic intent. While you already know it means 'to the detriment of' or 'at the expense of', at this level, you understand its subtle connotations and its place within the broader tapestry of Portuguese formal register. You recognize when to use it over 'em prejuízo de' (which leans slightly more towards legal or financial loss) or 'às expensas de' (which can imply a more direct, sometimes parasitic, extraction of resources). You can use 'em detrimento de' to dissect complex sociological phenomena, legal frameworks, or philosophical arguments. For instance, 'A hegemonia do discurso tecnocrático consolida-se frequentemente em detrimento da pluralidade de vozes na esfera pública' (The hegemony of technocratic discourse is frequently consolidated to the detriment of the plurality of voices in the public sphere). At the C2 level, you also appreciate the rhythm and cadence the phrase brings to a sentence. It provides a weighty, polysyllabic anchor that elevates the formality of the surrounding text. You manipulate it effortlessly, ensuring perfect grammatical concord and logical coherence, demonstrating an absolute, native-like command of the language's most sophisticated communicative tools.
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Examples
The expression 'em detrimento de' is a highly formal and sophisticated prepositional locution in the Portuguese language, universally recognized as a hallmark of advanced proficiency, typically aligned with the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. When you use this expression, you are communicating a complex relationship between two entities, actions, or concepts, where one is favored, chosen, or prioritized, directly resulting in the disadvantage, harm, or neglect of the other. It translates most accurately to the English phrases 'to the detriment of' or 'at the expense of'. Understanding the precise moments to deploy this phrase is essential for mastering academic, journalistic, and professional Portuguese. You will rarely hear this in casual, everyday street conversations, such as ordering coffee or chatting with friends about the weekend. Instead, it is the cornerstone of analytical discourse, policy discussions, business negotiations, and formal critiques.
Core Meaning
The fundamental concept revolves around a zero-sum game or a trade-off where the advancement of subject A inherently causes the regression or suffering of subject B.

O diretor escolheu focar no lucro a curto prazo em detrimento de investimentos em pesquisa e desenvolvimento.

To fully grasp its application, consider the root word 'detrimento', which originates from the Latin 'detrimentum', meaning damage, loss, or injury. Therefore, you are literally saying 'in the damage of' or 'causing loss to'. This etymological background helps explain why the phrase carries such a weighty, serious tone. It is not merely about making a choice; it is about acknowledging the negative consequences of that choice on a secondary party or objective.
Journalistic Context
In newspapers, journalists use this to critique government policies or corporate actions that prioritize economic gain over environmental protection or social welfare.

A nova lei favorece as grandes corporações em detrimento de pequenos produtores locais.

Furthermore, the phrase requires agreement with the noun that follows it. Because it ends with the preposition 'de', it must contract with definite articles. If the neglected thing is feminine, it becomes 'em detrimento da' (de + a). If it is masculine, it becomes 'em detrimento do' (de + o). Plurals follow the same logic: 'das' and 'dos'. This grammatical necessity forces the speaker to be constantly aware of the gender and number of the nouns they are employing, adding another layer of complexity to its usage.
Academic Context
Scholars utilize this locution to describe historical events where one culture, ideology, or technological advancement overshadowed and erased another.

A cultura oral foi progressivamente abandonada em detrimento da tradição escrita.

When analyzing political discourse, you will frequently encounter politicians accusing their opponents of acting 'em detrimento do povo' (at the expense of the people). This emotional yet formal accusation leverages the heavy, consequential nature of the word to paint the opposition's choices as not just different, but actively harmful.

O projeto foi aprovado rapidamente em detrimento do debate público necessário.

Ultimately, mastering this expression elevates your Portuguese from functional to eloquent. It demonstrates that you can articulate trade-offs, consequences, and complex priorities with the vocabulary expected of an educated native speaker. It is a powerful tool for rhetoric, persuasion, and precise analytical writing.

Muitos jovens sacrificam o sono em detrimento da sua saúde mental para passar nos exames.

Constructing sentences with 'em detrimento de' requires a clear understanding of sentence structure, specifically the balance between the action taken and the consequence suffered. The phrase functions as an adverbial adjunct of concession or consequence, modifying the main verb by explaining the negative trade-off of the action. The most common structural pattern is: [Subject] + [Action/Choice] + 'em detrimento de' + [The thing that suffers the loss]. This formula ensures clarity and maintains the formal register appropriate for the expression.
Structural Pattern 1
Placing the phrase at the end of the sentence to highlight the negative consequence as the final thought.

A empresa decidiu automatizar a produção em detrimento dos trabalhadores manuais.

It is also possible, though less common and highly stylistic, to place the phrase at the beginning of the sentence for dramatic emphasis. When doing this, a comma must separate the adverbial phrase from the main clause. This structure is often found in persuasive essays or dramatic political speeches where the speaker wants to immediately establish the victim of the circumstance before explaining the action that caused the harm.
Structural Pattern 2
Fronting the phrase for rhetorical emphasis, followed by a comma and the main clause.

Em detrimento da segurança pública, o orçamento da polícia foi severamente reduzido neste ano fiscal.

Another crucial aspect of using this phrase correctly is ensuring that the two items being compared (the one favored and the one harmed) are logically connected and represent a genuine trade-off. You would not say 'I ate an apple in detriment of a car' because there is no logical connection or trade-off between eating an apple and a car. However, you could say 'I bought a luxury car in detriment of my savings account'. The logical link is financial resources.
Logical Consistency
Ensure that the subjects on either side of the phrase represent a realistic sacrifice or opportunity cost.

Ele dedicou todo o seu tempo à carreira em detrimento da sua vida familiar.

In academic writing, you will often see this phrase used with abstract nouns. Words like 'qualidade' (quality), 'quantidade' (quantity), 'eficiência' (efficiency), and 'equidade' (equity) frequently appear alongside it. For instance, a common debate in production is prioritizing speed over quality. In Portuguese, this is elegantly stated using our target phrase.

A fábrica aumentou a velocidade de produção em detrimento da qualidade do produto final.

Finally, be mindful of the verbs that typically precede this expression. Verbs indicating choice, prioritization, investment, focus, or development are the most natural companions. Verbs like 'escolher' (to choose), 'priorizar' (to prioritize), 'favorecer' (to favor), 'investir' (to invest), and 'promover' (to promote) set up the perfect context for explaining what was left behind or harmed in the process.

O governo decidiu promover o turismo internacional em detrimento da preservação ambiental das zonas costeiras.

While you might not hear 'em detrimento de' at a local bakery or during a casual football match, it is ubiquitous in specific, high-level domains of Brazilian and European Portuguese. Recognizing these contexts will help you anticipate the phrase and understand the sophisticated arguments being presented. The primary arena for this expression is the media, particularly broadsheet newspapers, political commentary shows, and investigative journalism. Journalists rely on this phrase to expose inequality, highlight poor governmental decisions, and analyze corporate strategies. When a news anchor is discussing the national budget, they will inevitably use this phrase to explain which sectors are losing funding to pay for others.
News Media
Used extensively in editorials and hard news to describe economic and social trade-offs made by people in power.

O artigo critica a expansão urbana descontrolada em detrimento das áreas verdes da cidade.

The corporate world is another major habitat for this expression. In boardrooms, annual reports, and strategic planning meetings, executives use it to justify difficult decisions. When a company restructures, lays off employees to save money, or discontinues a beloved but unprofitable product line, the official communication will often frame the decision using this formal language to soften the blow while maintaining a professional tone. It sounds much more objective than saying 'we hurt this to help that'.
Corporate Strategy
Employed in business settings to articulate strategic shifts, resource allocation, and the inevitable sacrifices required for corporate growth.

A diretoria optou por expandir para o mercado asiático em detrimento das operações na América Latina.

Academia is perhaps where the phrase is most deeply entrenched. In essays, dissertations, and peer-reviewed journals across all disciplines—from sociology to biology—scholars use it to describe competing phenomena. A historian might write about one civilization conquering another, while a biologist might write about an invasive species thriving at the expense of native flora. The precise, objective nature of the phrase makes it ideal for scholarly analysis.
Academic Discourse
A staple of scholarly writing, used to objectively state the negative correlation or competitive exclusion between two variables or subjects.

A pesquisa demonstra que o uso excessivo de telas ocorre em detrimento do desenvolvimento cognitivo infantil.

Finally, you will hear it in formal public speaking, such as graduation addresses, keynote speeches, and sermons. Speakers use it to warn against moral or ethical compromises, urging the audience not to pursue wealth, success, or convenience if it means sacrificing their values, relationships, or health. In these contexts, the phrase takes on a philosophical or moral weight.

Não devemos buscar o sucesso profissional em detrimento da nossa integridade moral.

A globalização muitas vezes avança em detrimento das tradições culturais locais.

Even advanced learners of Portuguese can stumble when using 'em detrimento de', largely because it involves complex prepositional contractions and precise semantic logic. One of the most frequent errors is forgetting to contract the preposition 'de' with the definite article that follows it. English speakers, accustomed to saying 'at the expense OF THE', often translate this literally into 'em detrimento de o' or 'em detrimento de a'. In Portuguese, this lack of contraction is grammatically incorrect and immediately marks the speaker as a non-native. You must seamlessly blend the preposition and the article.
Contraction Errors
Failing to combine 'de' with articles (o, a, os, as) or demonstrative pronouns (este, aquele).

Incorrect: Ele estudou matemática em detrimento de a história. Correct: Ele estudou matemática em detrimento da história.

Another common pitfall is confusing 'em detrimento de' with 'em vez de' (instead of). While both involve a choice between two things, their meanings are significantly different. 'Em vez de' is neutral; it simply states that a substitution occurred. 'Em detrimento de' is loaded with negative consequence; it states that the substitution caused harm, disadvantage, or unfair neglect to the item not chosen. Using them interchangeably alters the intended meaning of the sentence and can make a neutral statement sound unexpectedly critical or dramatic.
Semantic Confusion
Using the phrase when a simple, consequence-free substitution ('em vez de') is meant.

Awkward: Eu comi maçã em detrimento da banana. (Implies eating the apple actively harmed the banana). Better: Eu comi maçã em vez da banana.

A third mistake involves prepositional mismatch. Sometimes learners will use 'a detrimento de' or 'no detrimento de'. The fixed expression always begins with the preposition 'em'. Changing the initial preposition breaks the fixed locution and sounds highly unnatural to native ears. The phrase is a locked, unchangeable unit: EM + detrimento + DE.
Prepositional Errors
Altering the fixed prepositions at the beginning or end of the phrase.

Incorrect: O projeto avançou a detrimento do meio ambiente. Correct: O projeto avançou em detrimento do meio ambiente.

Finally, learners sometimes struggle with the logical placement of the subjects. The entity that suffers the loss MUST follow the phrase. If you reverse the order, you reverse the meaning, often leading to nonsensical statements. If the government builds schools instead of roads, and the roads suffer from neglect, you must say 'escolas em detrimento das estradas'. Reversing it to 'estradas em detrimento das escolas' means the exact opposite of what happened.

Ele salvou o cachorro em detrimento do gato. (The cat was left behind/harmed).

A empresa focou no marketing em detrimento da segurança. (Safety was compromised).

To truly master Portuguese at a C1 or C2 level, you must possess a robust vocabulary that allows you to express similar concepts with varying degrees of nuance, formality, and emotional weight. While 'em detrimento de' is an excellent and powerful phrase, using it repetitively in a single essay or speech can make your language sound rigid. Therefore, understanding its synonyms and alternatives is crucial. One of the closest formal equivalents is 'às custas de' (at the expense of). This phrase carries a very similar meaning but often implies a more direct, sometimes exploitative, extraction of value from the secondary subject.
Às custas de
Translates directly to 'at the cost of' or 'at the expense of'. It is slightly more common in everyday speech than 'em detrimento de' but remains highly expressive and emphasizes the 'price paid' by the neglected party.

Ele enriqueceu às custas do sofrimento alheio.

Another excellent alternative is 'em prejuízo de'. The word 'prejuízo' means damage, loss, or prejudice (in the legal/financial sense). This phrase is virtually synonymous with our target expression and is frequently used interchangeably in legal and formal business contexts. It explicitly highlights the negative impact or financial loss incurred by the secondary subject.
Em prejuízo de
Meaning 'to the prejudice of' or 'causing loss to'. Highly formal, favored by lawyers and accountants.

A decisão foi tomada em prejuízo dos acionistas minoritários.

If you are looking for a simpler, more neutral alternative for B1/B2 level conversations, 'em vez de' (instead of) or 'em lugar de' (in place of) are your best options. As discussed in the common mistakes section, these do not carry the inherent meaning of 'harm' or 'disadvantage', but they do communicate the basic concept of substitution or choice. Use these when the trade-off is benign or purely a matter of preference without negative consequences.
Em vez de / Em lugar de
Neutral substitutions. Use these when no harm is implied, just a simple alternative choice.

Vou beber chá em vez de café hoje.

For verbs that convey a similar meaning, consider 'sacrificar' (to sacrifice), 'negligenciar' (to neglect), or 'prejudicar' (to harm). You can often rewrite a sentence using 'em detrimento de' by using one of these verbs instead. For example, instead of saying 'Ele escolheu o trabalho em detrimento da família', you could say 'Ele sacrificou a família pelo trabalho' (He sacrificed his family for work). This verbal restructuring adds dynamic variety to your writing.

O governo priorizou a indústria, prejudicando a agricultura.

A busca incessante pelo lucro ocorreu às expensas da ética profissional.

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Examples by Level

1

Ele escolheu o carro em detrimento da moto.

He chose the car at the expense of the motorcycle.

em detrimento da (de + a moto)

2

O menino comeu doce em detrimento da fruta.

The boy ate candy instead of (at the expense of) fruit.

em detrimento da (de + a fruta)

3

Ela dormiu em detrimento do trabalho.

She slept at the expense of her work.

em detrimento do (de + o trabalho)

4

Eu comprei o livro em detrimento do filme.

I bought the book at the expense of the movie.

em detrimento do (de + o filme)

5

Eles jogaram bola em detrimento do estudo.

They played ball at the expense of studying.

em detrimento do (de + o estudo)

6

Você escolheu a cor azul em detrimento da vermelha.

You chose the color blue at the expense of the red one.

em detrimento da (de + a vermelha)

7

O gato bebeu leite em detrimento da água.

The cat drank milk at the expense of water.

em detrimento da (de + a água)

8

Nós fomos ao parque em detrimento da praia.

We went to the park at the expense of the beach.

em detrimento da (de + a praia)

1

O aluno jogou videogame em detrimento do seu dever de casa.

The student played video games at the expense of his homework.

em detrimento do (de + o dever)

2

A família viajou para as montanhas em detrimento da viagem à praia.

The family traveled to the mountains at the expense of the beach trip.

em detrimento da (de + a viagem)

3

Ela comprou roupas novas em detrimento de economizar dinheiro.

She bought new clothes at the expense of saving money.

em detrimento de (before a verb, no article needed)

4

O restaurante serviu comida rápida em detrimento da qualidade.

The restaurant served fast food at the expense of quality.

em detrimento da (de + a qualidade)

5

Ele assistiu à televisão em detrimento de limpar a casa.

He watched television at the expense of cleaning the house.

em detrimento de (before a verb)

6

O prefeito construiu uma ponte em detrimento de uma escola.

The mayor built a bridge at the expense of a school.

em detrimento de (with indefinite article 'uma', de + uma = de uma)

7

Eles escolheram o caminho mais curto em detrimento da segurança.

They chose the shortest path at the expense of safety.

em detrimento da (de + a segurança)

8

A empresa contratou mais gerentes em detrimento dos trabalhadores.

The company hired more managers at the expense of the workers.

em detrimento dos (de + os trabalhadores)

1

O governo decidiu investir em turismo em detrimento da saúde pública.

The government decided to invest in tourism at the expense of public health.

em detrimento da (de + a saúde)

2

Muitas pessoas buscam a fama em detrimento da sua vida privada.

Many people seek fame at the expense of their private life.

em detrimento da (de + a sua vida)

3

A fábrica aumentou a produção em detrimento do meio ambiente.

The factory increased production at the expense of the environment.

em detrimento do (de + o meio ambiente)

4

O atleta treinou excessivamente em detrimento do seu descanso.

The athlete trained excessively at the expense of his rest.

em detrimento do (de + o seu descanso)

5

A cidade expandiu as estradas em detrimento do transporte público.

The city expanded the roads at the expense of public transportation.

em detrimento do (de + o transporte)

6

Ele aceitou o novo emprego em detrimento do tempo com os filhos.

He accepted the new job at the expense of time with his children.

em detrimento do (de + o tempo)

7

O projeto priorizou a estética em detrimento da funcionalidade.

The project prioritized aesthetics at the expense of functionality.

em detrimento da (de + a funcionalidade)

8

Os lucros foram distribuídos em detrimento dos investimentos futuros.

Profits were distributed at the expense of future investments.

em detrimento dos (de + os investimentos)

1

A adoção de tecnologias de automação ocorreu em detrimento dos postos de trabalho tradicionais.

The adoption of automation technologies occurred at the expense of traditional jobs.

em detrimento dos (de + os postos)

2

O desenvolvimento urbano desordenado avança em detrimento das áreas de preservação ambiental.

Disorderly urban development advances at the expense of environmental preservation areas.

em detrimento das (de + as áreas)

3

Muitas vezes, a velocidade da informação na internet se dá em detrimento da veracidade dos fatos.

Often, the speed of information on the internet occurs at the expense of the truthfulness of the facts.

em detrimento da (de + a veracidade)

4

A empresa optou por uma estratégia agressiva de preços em detrimento da sua margem de lucro.

The company opted for an aggressive pricing strategy at the expense of its profit margin.

em detrimento da (de + a sua margem)

5

O foco exclusivo no crescimento econômico pode acontecer em detrimento do bem-estar social.

An exclusive focus on economic growth can happen at the expense of social well-being.

em detrimento do (de + o bem-estar)

6

Em detrimento da clareza, o autor utilizou um vocabulário excessivamente rebuscado.

To the detriment of clarity, the author used an excessively complex vocabulary.

Fronted adverbial phrase, separated by a comma.

7

O acordo comercial foi assinado em detrimento dos interesses da indústria nacional.

The trade agreement was signed to the detriment of the national industry's interests.

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