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NAFTA AGRICULTURE
FACT SHEET:
Fresh Eggplant
TREATMENT OF TARIFFS:
Upon enactment of the NAFTA, three new U.S. tariff lines were created for eggplant.
U.S. eggplant imports from Mexico are covered by a special agricultural safeguard, which is designed as a seasonal tariff-rate quota. Under the safeguard, a certain quantity of imports enters at the NAFTA preferential tariff rate, while any amount in excess is assessed the lower of the current MFN rate or the MFN rate in place when the quantity is reached.
This quota quantity grows at a compounded 3-percent annual rate over the 10-year transition period. The quantity is 4,164 metric tons for Apr. 1-June 30, 1998.
Mexico phased out its 10-percent duty on eggplant imports from the United States immediately.
The U.S. phaseout schedule and safeguard quotas for eggplant are as follows:
Season Base tariff Phaseout Safeguard base 1/
Dec. 1-Mar. 31 2.4 cents/kg Immediately N/A
Apr. 1-June 30 3.3 cents/kg 10 years 3,700 mt
July 1-Sept. 30 3.3 cents/kg Immediately N/A
Oct. 1-Nov. 30 3.3 cents/kg 10 years N/A
1/ Will increase 3 percent annually, compounded. MFN rates are currently below the base tariff rate. N/A = not applicable.
TREATMENT OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS:
There are no quantitative restrictions affecting trade in eggplant.
U.S. Eggplant Trade with Mexico
Calendar Year |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
Export Value |
10 |
9 |
3 |
8 |
15 |
12 |
36 |
Export Volume |
12 |
10 |
4 |
12 |
17 |
13 |
32 |
Import Value |
16,870 |
13,854 |
11,967 |
11,461 |
19,809 |
20,078 |
16,581 |
Import Volume |
16,248 |
19,735 |
16,710 |
17,942 |
21,020 |
24,104 |
29,780 |
Value in $1,000; volume in metric tons.
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