The National Chamber of Producers of Pineapple (Canapep) of Costa Rica expressed its concern about the economic losses that the strike announced by the state unions, which would start on Monday in response to a tax reform, would have on exports of this fruit.
According to the Chamber, the strike would cause the closure of the two Caribbean state ports, through which 85 percent of Costa Rica's international trade moves.
"The closure of port operations puts at risk the export of about 3,150,000 boxes of fresh pineapple a week, which would generate losses to producers and exporters of close to 16 million dollars," the president of the board of directors of Canapep, Abel Chaves, stated.
In addition, the sector would lose another two million dollars in other products derived from pineapple.
Canapep sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Trade, Dyala Jimenez, and the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Renato Alvarado, in which they expressed their profound and alarming concern about the effects of the strike.
The Chamber asked the authorities to announce what measures the Government will take to avoid or minimize the effects of the trade union movement on the country's exports.
The union groups have called for an indefinite strike starting on Monday, September 10, to reject the tax reform, which in their opinion will increase the cost of living, mainly due to the creation of a Value Added Tax (VAT) that will mainly affect the middle and lower classes.
Source: EFE