Chile: FTA with Japan represents a "black panorama" for fruit producers
FreshPlaza | 28 March 2007
Chile: FTA with Japan represents a "black panorama" for fruit producers
Jahir Lombana
Tholen - According to the President of the Chilean based Federation of Fruit Producers (FEDEFRUTA), Rodrigo Echeverría, the agreement with Japan to conform a free trade zone benefits only few fruit producers. Beneficiary producers would be those of blueberries which will immediately have free access to the Japanese market. Other fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, kiwis and pears should wait between 5 and 7 years to complete the free access.
The most extreme cases, added Mr Echeverría, are grapes which will enter free of tariffs in 15 years and citrus (oranges and mandarines) which are excluded. A review of the FTA is expected in the fifth year of validity of the treaty, at that moment, according to Mr. Echeverría fruit producers will need more support of the government for a further tariff reduction.
