Here is the South Africa European Union trade dispute news!
Tons of South African citrus stuck in ports because of new health rules
The new EU measures came into force when tons of fruit were already on their way to Europe.
Tons of oranges, rotting in containers stuck in European ports, risk destruction. The situation is due to a trade dispute between South Africa and the European Union (EU) over import rules.
In July, the EU introduced new phytosanitary requirements. South Africa, the world's second largest exporter of fresh citrus fruits after Spain, immediately filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), believing that these new measures threatened the survival of the sector.
South Africa European Union trade dispute
The measures came into force when hundreds of containers were already sailing to Europe. So the ships were blocked on arrival. "This is a complete and absolute disaster," commented Justin Chadwick, CEO of the South African citrus growers association (CGA). "Exceptional quality food, which poses no risk, vegetates there ... It's really a disaster. »
The new rules are aimed at combating the potential spread of the false codling moth, an African parasite that lodges in oranges and grapefruits. The EU requires all oranges destined for European tables to be treated in extreme cold and kept at temperatures below or equal to 2 °C for 25 days.
South African producers, who already have more targeted means to prevent the infestation, consider these measures unnecessary. In its complaint to the WTO, the exporting country argues that these requirements are "not based on scientific data", that they are "discriminatory", excessive, and put additional stress on an already proven industry.
South Africa European Union trade dispute details
Europe is the largest market for South African citrus fruits. The sector employs more than 120,000 people in a country where more than one in three people is unemployed. The new rules, which came at the height of the orange season, took producers by surprise.
The dispute is now in the hands of the WTO. The parties have 60 days to negotiate a solution. Failing this, the complainant may request arbitration by a panel. For its part, the EU said it was confident about the "compatibility of its measures with WTO rules". For its part, the CGA hopes that "common sense" will prevail and that a quick solution can be found.
South Africa European Union trade dispute comments
- France is a country that has an important agriculture...fruits of the légumes...la France can also be self-sufficient why in 2016 -2018 the EU signed an agreement with South Africa to bring citrus fruits? another complete misunderstanding.
- because in France (Corsica aside for its very very expensive clementines) citrus fruits are grown everywhere????? Consume locally and without water???? are you dreaming? Are the fruits of Spain also milked and tasteless? Would you rather eat Israel's avocados? NO I'm boycotting
- Citrus fruits from the Mediterranean region are more than enough for Europe to produce fewer tons of carbon..
