Jamaican coffee group warns exports to China at threat
/ Our Today
administrator
Norman Grant, chairman of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA), says uncertainty hangs over member exporters due to reduced shipments to China and the potential economic fallout likely to ensue as a direct result.
The JCEA, in a statement earlier this month, acknowledged newly implemented registration requirements enacted by the General Administration of Chinese Customs (GACC) for exporters who wish to export goods to Asian giant.
Based on regulations, the Jamaica Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (JACRA) is the agency that approves and ships green coffee on behalf of the exporters.
“Due to unresolved issues with JACRA’s registration for GACC, coffee exporters now have coffee piling up and are unable to ship to their clients in China,” mused Grant.
This will have a negative impact on the trade relationship with China, considered by the exporters as the key growth market for Jamaican coffee exports. This will ultimately impact the coffee farmers, as the loss of a significant base of clients will lead to reduced demand, and ultimately a lower price for Jamaican coffee,” he added.
In addition, JCEA members will be seeking compensation from the Government for the losses they may incur due to delay in resolving the issues with JACRA’s GACC registration.
“The JCEA urges all relevant parties, including JACRA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to urgently resolve the GACC registration as soon as possible to avoid any further negative impact on the Jamaican coffee industry,” Grant asserted further.
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