Jalisco, Mexico - Regardless of what happens with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the avocados grown in Jalisco will be, sooner or later, exported to the United States; the only thing that will vary will be the tax that the consumers of that country pay, said the Association of Producers and Exporters of Avocado from Jalisco (Apeajal) Director, Ignacio Gomez Arregui.

We believe that no matter what happens to the NAFTA, and whatever the scenario may be, avocados from Jalisco will continue to insist on entering that market," he asserted.

According to Gomez Arregui, if the NAFTA continues, the fruit produced in Jalisco will only have to comply with the existing protocol for avocados from Michoacan. However, if the NAFTA disappears, the most likely scenario is that the US will impose some tariffs on this product, which would mainly affect US consumers, he said. If this were to happen, he added, it wouldn't reduce the consumption of avocados in the United States.

Avocados from Jalisco are in great demand around the world. "35% of the 80,000 tons that were exported in 2017 were sent to Canada; 30%, to various countries in Europe; 25%, to Japan, and the remaining 10% to Central America, South America, Hong Kong, and the Middle East," Ignacio Gomez pointed out.

Regarding the opening of the Chinese market, another of sector's big bets, Ignacio Gomez said Apeajal expected that market would open soon, as Chinese authorities visited Mexico last year and were very satisfied with what they saw.

"I do not know if Mexico and China will sign a new protocol for avocado or if there's only going to be an addendum to the existing protocol. That will be determined by federal authorities, but there's been progress on that issue," he said.

This article, originally published in Spanish by eleconomista.com.mx, was translated and edited by freshplaza.com.