The U.S. Department of Agriculture will host a virtual trade event for U.S. sweets and snack exporters looking to expand sales to Latin America, the agency said in a Jan. 25 news release. The April 20-21 online event will provide U.S. exporters information about trade conditions and market access in several Central American countries -- including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama -- and connect exporters with buyers. Applications for the event are due Feb. 8.
Argentina recently lowered export taxes on a range of agricultural goods and imposed financing restrictions for importers of certain luxury beverages, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report released Jan. 14. The government lowered export taxes for certain “specialty crops,” including apples, pears, blueberries, seeds and alfalfa, which is intended to boost the competitiveness of Argentinian exporters, and encourage exports of “products whose increased production will result in higher levels of employment, and for which increasing exports won’t raise food costs.” The financing restrictions apply to importers of certain luxury goods, including champagne, whisky and other liquors valued at more than $50 per liter.
Canada was to begin enforcing new lot code requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables Jan. 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Jan. 12. Most prepackaged goods are required to have a “lot code or unique identifier” on the label, such as an alphabetic or alphanumeric “code to identify a lot of product.” The product’s harvest date, grower identification number, GPS coordinates or growing region can also be used as a lot code, FAS said.
Brazil removed duties on certain syringes and needles to facilitate the imports of those goods to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 11. Brazil also is requiring a license to export certain syringes, needles and other medical products, the report said.