Ecuador: The broccoli exporters affected by Atpdea

One week before the end date of the Ecuador's tariff protection Atpdea, broccoli producers start to feel the damage of this benefit absence - it exonerated the tariff's payment on some 750 products that were being exported in the United States.
Francisco Correa, from a company which was exporting broccoli - Provefrut - signalled yesterday that a client from the American nation decided not to buy 100 tons of that product. "There are clients that don't want to pay the 15% tariff and they just say "don't send it to me, I'm going to buy it from Mexico"", commented the businessman. He mentioned that even if some other clients accepted to pay it, that is no solution to the problem coming with exporting without Atpdea."keeping the books, just in case they don't solve the thing", he sustained.
The worrying feeling comes, moreover, in the fact that in two months time the broccoli production in Mexico and Guatemala will start, which could affect the Ecuadorian side more, if the Atpdea doesn't get an extension. The Chamber of Representatives didn't get to a consensus last week when they had the chance to extend to the 1st of July the preference and during this week the subject didn't came to the table, so it's estimated that will be relegated to March.
The inconvenience that the end of the Atpdea for the broccoli producers was made known yesterday in the meeting of exporters with the Production Minister, Nathalie Cely. During the meeting it was agreed that reports on the possible impact in each area coming from the non-extension of the preferences will be delivered. Moreover, it was agreed to ask for support to the North-American importers and suppliers to make a lobby in the Senate for their country.