Canned fruit leader

Foreign Trade Department director-general Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday that the lower import tariff would make Thai canned pineapple exports more competitive.

"Thai exports should increase significantly to the US with the lower tariff," he said. "Moreover, the closing down of Maui Pineapple, the sole US canned-pineapple company, will also ensure higher import demand in this market." According to the department, Thailand's exports of canned pineapple to the US were worth of Bt3.5 billion last year. The Kingdom enjoyed the largest market share with more than 36 per cent.

Since July 1995, Thai canned pineapple exports to the US were subjected to a 7.11-51.16 per cent anti-dumping duty. The US has announced that it will cancel the anti-dumping duty for Thai canned pineapple, with retroactive effect from October last year.

Despite the removal of the import barrier, Apiradi suggested that Thai exporters be careful about sanitary standards for Thai food exports to ensure export growth in the US market.