According to the chairman of Asociación de Fruticultores del Occidente de Carabobo, and director of Frutales FEDEAGRO, Ricardo Bello, Venezuela’s consent to join Mercosur last month will affect the position of citrus fruits on the domestic market.
“We cannot afford Brazil to offload their products in Venezuela at a price that is ruining our national citrus production,” says Bello. “It would be a heavy blow to our markets if access to the dollar prevails over the wellbeing of our country.”
Mercosur, looking to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency between several South American nations, provides the possibility of ‘legal’ Brazilian products to enter the Venezuelan market. The Brazilian giant estimates its production of oranges in 2011 to be over 20 million tons, over 40 times that of Venezuela.
“We can’t imagine the disastrous consequences if Venezuela’s economy has to take on this Brazilian monster,” says Bello.
Source: Dinero