South Korea (temporarily) eliminated tariffs on imports of whole and skim milk powder and for pork and beef, news that was well received by the Uruguayan government.
The measure was taken for purchases of 10 thousand tons of powdered milk, up to 50 thousand tons of pork and 100 thousand tons of beef. The lowering of tariffs will be temporary until the end of the year Y responds to the Korean government’s concern about the inflationary phenomenonexplained to The Observer Juan Ignacio Buffa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP).
“We already have a commercial flow despite the tariffs that are paid, but this means good news and Uruguay is prepared for that potential demand that can be opened,” he said.
“First come, first served”
Juan Daniel Vago, president of the National Milk Institute (Inale), commented that the exoneration of the tariffs for dairy products will be done with a quota. As explained in a statement released on the Inale website, the administration of the entrance fees will be based on “first come, first served (in order of arrival) until completing the totals enabled in this special regime.”
Vago indicated that the lowering of tariffs is seen as good news, given that dairy products in South Korea, for example powdered milk, have so far paid a tariff of 176%.
As he said, the measure “is a term issue, a consequence of the global uncertainty due to the covid and especially the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has led to high inflation; and also in some cases due to lack of access to food.”
Diversify markets
In addition to lowering tariffs, South Korea approved the health certificate prepared by the MGAP so that Uruguay can export beef in block and trimming (meat trimmings).
Buffa argued that the government’s idea is “to channel the processes so that the private sector capitalizes on these opportunities”, since the export of blocks and trimming will mean a diversification of marketshe added.
As explained by Minister Fernando Mattos, the approval was given after negotiations with the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry, which worked based on requests from the industrial sector.
“It is an important step in the diversification of the markets, which also allows generating a higher value of the merchandise,” said Mattos, who stressed that Uruguay is the only country that accesses the South Korean market – and also that of Japan. with the condition of free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination.
“Uruguay managed to generate confidence in a highly demanding market,” said the hierarch.
