As of January 1, 2021, after the United Kingdom left the European Union on December 31, 2020, the Association Agreement between Chile and the United Kingdom entered into operation. This instrument, which goes beyond the conditions of the Agreement between Chile and the European Union (EU), will make it possible to safeguard the continuity of national shipments to the British market, giving certainty to exporters from both countries.

Fast forward almost two years, Chile became the first country in the world to sign an agreement of this type with the United Kingdom when it was signed on January 31, 2019. The Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, Rodrigo Yáñez pointed out that “the central orientation of This Agreement is to protect bilateral trade and safeguard jobs for SMEs and national exporters, considering the importance of their contribution to economic reactivation ”.

A relevant element is the evolutionary nature of the Agreement, which contains a series of instruments to expand and modernize its coverage, with an evolutionary clause for agricultural goods, which establishes that in a period of two years and so on, the parties will review the status of tariff liberalization for these products, which in the case of Chile, 86% of shipments to the United Kingdom are food, thus improving conditions for our exporters and making the most of their wide potential.

New varieties

On the consumer side, attention should be focused on improving the product. Although western states like Washington and Oregon have increased productivity in recent years, some older varieties are still grown. "While they may be great producers, they lack good taste." Newer varieties taste better, earning growers a premium and keeping consumers coming back for repeat purchases. In South America, Driscoll's works almost exclusively with new varieties from the company's own breeding program, and the market rewards the availability of premium varieties. “Our Arana variety is sold under the special Sweetest Batch label and super premium varieties like these receive 30 to 40 percent more fob” Bjorn is confident that southern retailers will reward locally grown, great tasting varieties with a premium. .

With a focus on product improvement, there is an opportunity for the national industry to maintain the momentum of blueberries.

Questions and Answers about this agreement access here