Argentine citrus will be under the microscope next month when U.S. inspectors will analyze the fruit prior to lifting import duties, Aimdigital.com.ar reported.

The U.S. Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) together with Argentine health authorities will start with mandarins and oranges.

Entre Rios governor Sergio Urribarri,  said this was a very important step for the industry.

"This is a sector which generates thousand of jobs and is one of our principal activities. The U.S. is a market with a very high demand," he was quoted as saying.

Urribarri estimated that once duties are lifted exports from Entre Rios, a principal growing region, would increase by 30%.

It's expected that Argentina will export about 2,250 metric tons (MT) in its first year of trade with the U.S.

Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner asked Barrack Obama at the G-20 summit earlier this month if the taxes could be removed following lobbying by Urribarri.

Related story: Argentine president presses Obama to lift citrus tariffs

Photo: Wn.com

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