The agricultural attaché of the Embassy of Chile in India, Jaime Gonzalez, spoke about the progress in the negotiations for the opening of the Indian market and the situation of some Chilean products such as nuts, blueberries, and avocados.
According to Gonzalez, shelled and in-shell nuts achieved some exports to the Indian market. However, he said, "the income conditions were not ideal, but the exports still took place." While the term specified in the work plan was not fulfilled, the Indian authorities said that they had accepted the Chilean proposal to use phosphine instead of methyl bromide.
The requirements established for the South American country regarding blueberries is less favorable and impedes exports in practical terms, said the Chilean official. In that sense, the Indian authorities acknowledged the discrimination and are working to make a more appropriate standard.
The Chilean agricultural attaché said that something similar was happening with the avocado, the requirements impede Chilean exports because the avocado’s sensitivity to methyl bromide. As a result, the Indian authorities said they still hadn’t begun that evaluation.
As for the fresh fruit, the 2014-2015 season showed a decline in export volumes, mainly of apples, cherries, and grapes, Gonzalez said. In this regard, the official said there had been a round of assessment with importers.
The largest Chilean fruit exports to India are apple exports. However, this product faces powerful competition from the Chinese apple, the apple from the state of Washington, and the local apple.
