QCOSTARICA – Costa Rica’s pig farmers are complaining about the growth in imports of pork from Chile, and are asking the government actions to protect them.
The problems of competitiveness of some sectors of the Costa Rican agro livestock production are emerging, as entrepreneurs from other countries with which it has free trade agreements, in this case Chile, take advantage of opportunities provided by those treaties.
Up to April this year 5,200 tons of pork has been imported, mostly from Chile, while it 1,200 tons were imported during 2014. Pork producers say that this increase is affecting them.
The president of the Chamber of Pork Producers of Costa Rica (Cámara de Porcicultores de Costa Rica), Renato Alvarado, told Crhoy.com that “… What worries us most is that is affecting the domestic market and also producers and has not resulted in a reduction in price for consumers, so we are calling on the authorities of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade (MEIC), and the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) to take action. ”
“… The number of pig farmers has been declining since that trade deal was approved, from 6,500 producers in 2000 to 3,500 in 2014.”
It would seem that domestic pork producers should be able to sell pork for less than any import producers. The beautiful thing about a free market is that it drives the real price of goods. Unless Chile is subsidizing pig farmers, there is no reason for Costa Rica pig farmers to be under sold unless the government has made it too costly here to raise and process pigs. in that case, the free market will import pork to satisfy customer demand. Stop whining!
Doug isn’t the CR GOV already corrupting fair market values across the board?
The vehicle topic is ludacris as is being able to cross into Panama to purchase CR produced goods at a cheaper price than if purchased in CR.
What exactly is the point to stifling growth while Panama is kicking your behind and leaving you in the dust??
Makes no sense. It is simply stupidity.
an article like this is meaningless, or worse when you don’t publish the average cost of a pound/kilo of pork at retail… why not?? too lazy is the answer… sad commentary on ‘journalism’..