camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Business strategy I would say. It is my understanding that Nikon does not actually has an authorized retail store in Brazil since the majority of the products sold there are gray market. Why no authorized store I believe is due to the fact that buyers are going more for the gray market and as you know Nikon does not cover those products under warranty.
Nikon has excellent manufacturing plants in Thailand where cameras and lenses are manufactured. Perhaps manufacturing in China does not add much to their business and this is only my observation.
Camera and lenses are not selling as well as in the past so companies are restructuring their sales strategy. Nikon is no exemption.

OlinBost Loc: Marietta, Ga.

Does that mean that second party (photo stores etc.) will stop selling Nikon also?

repleo Loc: Boston

Don't confuse 'gray market' with counterfeit. Nikon products are Nikon products. 'Gray market' Nikons are identical to 'official' Nikons. It is just about territory and which branch of Nikon gets the profit and which branch has to carry the burden of the warranty. There may be some slight differences, such as the type of plug on the battery charger or the language in the manual or the menus, but they are essentially the same product made by the same company and usually made in the same factory. Your 'official' US purchased Nikon would be gray market in Brazil. Maybe, this is a good thing for US dealers since the only option for Brazilians to purchase Nikons will be to import from another country.