The head of the Secretariat of Agricultural Food and Rural Development, Paulo Bañuelos Rosales, stated that the Government of Mexico would not accept new tariffs or new taxes that the United States or Canada would like to establish during the next renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Bañuelos Rosales stated this after having participated in a meeting with the State Secretaries of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), Jose Calzada Rovirosa; where they agreed this productive sector should be represented during the next renegotiations of the agreement.
"This affects the United States as much as it affects us, we also buy many supplies and equipment, so new taxes won't benefit them or us. We are working so that those issues in the negotiation always favor Mexican companies and Mexican producers," he said.
At present, the state of Guanajuato exports to the United States different products, such as broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and onions. Lately there has been a boom in the export of strawberry and blackberry. The official said that Canada presented big and interesting opportunities for Guanajuato's agricultural products and that they sought to export them without using intermediaries.
"Guanajuato is the only state that has a Premium Zone program in Mexico. It is a state that has always taken care of its certifications and that doesn't export any product that has the slightest trace of contaminants," he said.
He added that they performed a great job in the use of agrochemicals and stressed the important work being done in conjunction with the Federal Government so that the entity's field products have all the necessary certifications to be exported to the United States and Canada.
"I think we send 85% or 90% to the US, and that we send 3% to Canada and the remaining part to Central America," Bañuelos Rosales said.
He concluded by stating that, up to until now, the exports of products from the field of Guanajuato have had no problem reaching the United States because they had worked intensively to ensure that these products have all the necessary certifications and also meet the specifications requested by the buyers.
Source: elsoldeleon.com.mx