Argentina's Blueberry Committee (ABC) was invited to the lunch that President Macri put on for the President of China, Xi Jinping; as a few weeks ago Argentina sent its first shipment of blueberries to China.
Alejandro Pannunzio, the president of Berries del Sol and vice-president of ABC, represented the country's blueberry producers. "We were invited to be part of a meeting with the president of China and, without a doubt as producer and Argentine, we are very happy. We believe that the prospects for the future are very good and we hope that it will have a positive effect on our country and our sector," he said.
During lunch, Pannunzio spoke briefly with President Mauricio Macri, congratulating him for all the work done in the framework of the G-20 and for positioning Argentina again in the world. He also stressed the need to continue working on lowering tariffs to export blueberries to China. The ABC requested - as an alternative measure - that the Fresh Blueberry have the same treatment as the Dry Blueberry, which would allow reducing tariffs from the current 30% to 10%.
Pannunzio spoke with the head of SENASA, Ricardo Negri, and Argentina's ambassador to China, Diego Guelar, to continue working on all the necessary tariff issues to become more competitive in the world market.
Pannunzio also spoke with the Secretary of Agribusiness, Luis Miguel Etchevehere, and his secretary of A,GyP, Guillermo Bernaudo, to whom he requested a common work agenda on withholdings, regional economies, and tariffs. "Our industry is making every effort to export, but we need to improve our competitiveness. Argentina has potential, but we must have equal conditions to face our competitors," he said.
The ABC, which accounts for more than 80% of the country's blueberry exports, brings together the sector's regional chambers, i.e.: the Association of Producers of Mesopotamia (APAMA), the Argentine Chamber of Producers of Blueberries and other Berries (CAPAB), and the Association of Blueberry Producers of Tucuman (APRATUC).
