The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, announced that avocado and mango exports from Michoacán to the United States were normalizing, after a pause imposed by Washington due to an incident of violence against US inspectors. López Obrador expressed optimism about the prompt resolution of the matter, coinciding with the visit of US Ambassador Ken Salazar to Michoacán. However, he criticized the US "arrogance" for stopping imports unilaterally, emphasizing the importance of consultation and cooperation between the two countries.
"We ask the United States Government not to act unilaterally. We have good relationships and work together, so acting unilaterally is not the way to do things. Why so much arrogance?" he said. "Sure, things are being solved, but it leaves a bad precedent. We are commercial partners and we have good relations," he said.
Imports were suspended on June 15, after two inspectors from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) were held by Purépecha indigenous people during a blockade in the town of Aranza, municipality of Paracho. This incident temporarily affected the avocado and mango trade, two key products for the economy of Michoacan, Mexico's main avocado producer and one of the country's only two states authorized to export it to the US.
"There was a police protest, and it seems that the inspectors wanted to pass but were not allowed, so they got into a squabble and the United States Government Department of Agriculture decided to stop avocado imports," the president said.
Mexico produces 1.68 million tons of avocado annually and is the world's leading avocado exporter. Michoacan and Jalisco are the main exporting states.
Source: EFE / eldiario.es