Chile: Biobío is confident that there will be no damage to berry exports to the United States

The Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Lagos, stated that when there is no production of blueberries in the United States, Chile is producing, that is, it is a counter-season market.

Local berry producers indicated that they hope that what is currently happening with exports from countries such as Peru and Mexico will not happen in Chile, since the country has also diversified its export market.

“Although it is true that the main berry export market continues to be the United States, the highest growth rates in recent years were in Asia and Europe, where new consumers were incorporated. In fact, it should be noted that Chile continues to diversify its markets, "said the seremi of Agriculture of the Biobío region, Francisco Lagos.

Likewise, he pointed out that “blueberry exports led the agricultural sector in the Biobío region with sales of over 87 million dollars during 2019, according to data from Prochile, based on figures from the National Customs Service. For this reason, it is relevant to highlight that all the guidelines and sanitary safeguards for the future harvest are already being taken.

The seremi de Economía made these statements when asked about the situation and concern expressed by the Chilean berry production industry, because last week, the Office of the US Trade Representative announced that it will request the International Trade Commission of that country, start an investigation to determine the damage that blueberry imports may be causing to producers in some states, according to the newspaper El Mercurio.

"If the damage is proven, safeguards could be imposed on countries that export this fruit to the United States," said Ronald Bown, president of the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile (Asoex).

THE LOCAL EXPECTATION

Alejandro Villamán, who represents a company that exports fresh blueberries, indicated that what has appeared in the press regarding this situation, which is mainly experienced by countries such as Peru and Mexico, has to do with an alleged indirect damage that Chile could suffer, but that anyway, they trust that this does not happen.

“This news is in development, since a study is being carried out by United States agencies, which will last around 120 to 180 days, during which time it will be verified whether imports are affecting local producers. This is a protectionist measure of the United States Government and it originates specifically in blueberries due to the arrivals of Peruvian and Mexican fruit, ”explained the agronomist.

The professional also highlighted that he stressed that Chile has focused its efforts on developing consumption and diversifying markets. In this sense, this measure refers precisely to the fact that North America is not the only market to which berries are exported, however, it acknowledged that it is still the main buyer with around 52% of Chilean blueberry production.

"So far there is no direct impact on Chilean exports, because the incubation window we have is December, January, and it is precisely when the United States is not in production," he said.

FEATURED 1

“Although it is true that the main berry export market continues to be the United States, the highest growth rates in recent years were in Asia and Europe, where new consumers were incorporated. In fact, it should be noted that Chile continues to diversify its markets ”.

Francisco Lagos, seremi of Agriculture of the Biobío region.

FEATURED 2

"So far there is no direct impact on Chilean exports, because the incubation window we have is December, January, and it is precisely when the United States is not in production"

Alejandro Villaman, agricultural engineer, representative of local export company.

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