The 20 percent tariff on US apples is beneficial for the national producers from the states of Puebla, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila and part of Zacatecas, as it protects the businessmen of the apple industry, stated Sigifredo Corral Andujo, the president of the apple producers in the state of Chihuahua.
This tax will allow this sector to be more competitive, he added. The state of Chihuaha produces an average of 20 million apples a year, each box contains 125 to 138 of apples.
He also said that producers plant one million apple trees a year throughout the state, which allows them to considerably improve the production.
The entrepreneur said Mexican producer had been competing with the American apple since 1994, as the Mexican apple has had a very important evolution since the NAFTA was signed.
Corral said that apple prices were currently very good because producers were being paid 17 pesos per kilo, when production costs stood at 12 pesos per kilo. Meanwhile, prices to the public can vary between 22 and 25 pesos, maybe even 30 pesos per kilo.
The president of the apple producers said the competitiveness of Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, Texas, wasn't very good because, even with the tariff, a lot of apples, including smuggled apples might entered into the country; so far there are no complaints about this illicit activity taking place, but this possibility can't be ruled out.
Corral Andujo said the tariff on the apple would benefit Mexican apple producers, because there would be less fruit from the United States and better prices, which would allow producers to improve their products.
Source: netnoticias.mx