In South Korea, the government has firmly stated its position against loosening import restrictions for apples and pears, attributing this stance to concerns over pest spread, despite the significant increase in fruit prices. Last month, data from Statistics Korea highlighted a 41.2% rise in the prices of fresh fruits such as apples, mandarins, and pears compared to the previous year, marking the most substantial hike since September 1991. This surge is largely due to reduced apple production, which saw a 71% price increase from last February, exacerbated by extreme weather events. The inflationary pressure from fruit prices has notably contributed 0.57 percentage points to February's consumer price index, indicating a significant impact on overall inflation.
Despite the pressing inflation concerns, the government, prioritizing phytosanitary measures, has no intention to amend the import policies for these fruits. Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung emphasized that importing apples would not immediately mitigate the high prices caused by the previous year's poor harvest.
However, the government is exploring negotiations with 11 countries for apple imports, with Japan progressing the furthest in talks. Meanwhile, measures to alleviate the domestic fruit shortage include expanding discount support for fruits and broadening the range of imported fruits eligible for tariffs. Efforts will also focus on direct imports of oranges and bananas and supplying "ugly" fruits to meet consumer demand until the new harvest arrives.
Source: koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
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