Import Rise of 500 Per Cent Prompts Tariff Hike
COLOMBIA – In a bid to protect rural jobs, Argentinian milk powder imports have been restricted by trade tariffs following authorisation by the Committee on Customs, Tariff and Trade.
Tariffs will be fixed at 6.6 per cent up to 993 tons and 20 per cent for quantities up to 1957. Above this the duty will be set at 98 per cent.
Acting as a temporary measure, the tariff alterations are initially valid for 90 days and are renewable for up to two years.
The decision was prompted by record Argentinian milk imports being confirmed for 2012 at 20,000 tons which included a 500 per cent increase between January and October last year.
The trade restriction actions are expected to protect the jobs of 400,000 ‘small’ scale farmers producing milk in the country.
Back in December, Juan Salazar, the Agricultural Minister, alerted the Ministry of Commerce telling them the trade situation with Argentina could cause hardship to many farmers if not urgently addressed and recommended that quota agreements be tightened
Other trade measures may be required for other imports coming in from elsewhere in South America.
TheCattleSite News Desk