According to the agricultural attaché with the Embassy of Brazil in Cairo, Cesar Simas Teles, publication on Brazil’s Federal Gazette of food safety requirements agreed upon between the countries is the only step pending as proceedings are at an advanced stage for Egypt to begin supplying citrus fruits to Brazil.
Egypt is planning to sell orange, tangerine and lime/lemon to Brazil.
As per the Mercosur-Egypt free trade agreement in effect since 2017, a 75% tax break is already in place for citrus from Egypt.
The current 2.5% charge on Egyptian citrus fruits will become void by September 2020.
Imports of oranges to Brazil came out to 30,655 tons and USD 27.79 million last year.
Lime and lemon imports were 4,024 tons and USD 4.04 million.
For Teles, the relevance of this step resides in what it represents, rather than on market size.
“This is important first and foremost because Brazil is the first country in the Americas to allow citrus from Egypt into its market,” he told ANBA.
Teles believes that Brazil and Egypt are in particularly good standing may have played a role in the developments.
“Brazil’s government recently got wind of the news that 42 meat exporting facilities in the country got the green light from Egypt’s government, so this is a good time for Brazil to allow in citrus fruit from Egypt.
The technical aspects are taken care of.
All we need now is the publication, but we can’t be sure when that will come because of the pandemic,” the attaché explained.
From the Egyptian side, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation said that Egypt will indeed begin exporting citrus fruits to Brazil for the first time.
This can be done now the Agricultural Quarantine Authority (AQA) successfully concluded negotiations with Brazilian authorities.
It is worth noting the ministry announced increasing the lending value for all farmers to 50% of corps cost. ■
Under an intense surge of arctic air, Friday morning will begin with the coldest temperatures so far this season across much of the central and eastern U.S. with blustery conditions and a piercing wind chill.