EU Commission negotiating pear and apple export protocols to US
The second round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the…The second round of n
egotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the European Commission and the United States (TTIP) is taking place this week in Brussels. With respect to fruits and vegetables, the Commission will continue negotiating the protocols that will allow the export of pears and apples to the United States. The protocol is expected to involve a master management plan for the plantations whose production will be shipped to the US, covering aspects such as the inspection of orchards and warehouses, as well as management programs for certain pests of interest and inspections in field.
This management program will include a series of general requirements applicable to all EU producing and exporting countries, and another series of particular requirements, taking into account each country's specific features.
Spain's fruit and vegetable exports to the United States stood at around 56,049 tonnes in 2012, of which 50,738 tonnes corresponded to fruit and 5,311 tonnes to vegetables. According to the Spanish Department of Customs and Special Taxes, the country's most exported fruit were mandarins.
EU exports to the United States in 2012 reached 114,028 tonnes, of which 73,780 tonnes corresponded to fruit and 40,248 tonnes to vegetables, according to Eurostat.
A third round of negotiations has been scheduled for the week beginning on 16 December.