Banana exporters in Ecuador support the government’s efforts to improve trade relations with China.
Earlier this week, President Guillermo Lasso said he would try to negotiate a free trade agreement with the Asian giant after meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
According to José Antonio Hidalgo, executive director of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE), exports could double under a trade agreement with China thanks to previous campaigns to raise awareness of Ecuador’s banana offer.
As of today, bananas entering the Chinese market face a 10 per cent tariff, which negatively impacts the product’s competitiveness.
The banana exports from Ecuador to China in 2020 decreased by 29 percent from the previous year, totalling US$156.62 million in 2020. Exports of bananas accounted for 4% of total exports.
