Argentine blueberry producers of the Argentinian Blueberries Committee (ABC) criticized the national government's decision to "implement an export right that, added to the fall of refunds, surpass the competitiveness gained by the devaluation, leaving the sector in a critical situation in a very demanding international context."
"The sector understands the reality of the country, that's why we are determined to make an effort. But we believe that if the government maintains the rates that it announced, they will strongly affect our regional economy," the ABC stated. "Our sector creates many jobs, generating 600,000 working days per year, and these measures put the regional economies of the productive areas of the NOA, NEA, and Buenos Aires, as well as a sector that already has competitive problems, at risk," they added.
The Committee said it was essential to evaluate the 12% reduction for the sector, while insisting that "now our exports will be used to pay internal taxes, so we'll generate fewer jobs and less income. We're also being affected by the reduction of export refunds, which seek to encourage exports, improve competitiveness and develop regional economies. In this scenario, we all lose."
The ABC will request an urgent meeting with the relevant organizations to discuss possible solutions that don't harm the regional economies. "While Argentina's blueberry production became stagnant and lost the commercial window it had, other competing countries grew exponentially," they stated. "Not having free trade agreements and not entering China at a reasonable cost (as we have to pay 30% in taxes while our main competitors pay 0%), puts us at a disadvantage that distances us from the markets that we worked so hard to open."
The ABC, which accounts for more than 80% of the country's blueberry exports, brings together the sector's regional chambers, which are: the Association of Producers of Mesopotamia (APAMA), the Argentine Chamber of Producers of Blueberries and other Berries (CAPAB), and the Association of Producers of Blueberries of Tucuman (APRATUC).
Source: agrofy.com.ar