Table grapes, stonefruit, blueberries, kiwifruit and raspberries are amongst 606 Chilean exports granted tariff exemptions in South Korea and Japan under the terms of bilateral trade agreements with both Asian countries.
Direcon, Chile’s International Economic Relations Board, said the list – which also includes raisins, apple juice, and dried apple – was exempt from tariffs as of 1 January 2014. The majority of products (391) are exported to South Korea, with a further 215 being shipped to Japan.
Official figures show that between January and October 2013 Chilean exports to South Korea topped US$6bn, of which fruit and other food products accounted for around US$500m. Exports to Japan during the same period were valued at almost US$6.4bn.
