The Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Ecuador entered into force on May 1. Under the FTA, tariffs on a number of Ecuadorian fruits and vegetables will be reduced directly or gradually to 0%. However, many of these products have not yet signed the phytosanitary requirements Protocol, and Ecuadorian producers still have to wait.

According to the FTA, products that could enjoy zero tariffs include blueberries, passion fruit, watermelon, papaya, coffee, asparagus, taro, grapes, tree tomatoes, fresh cassava, sausage and quinoa. However, none of the above fruits and vegetables and agricultural products have been approved by the General Administration of Customs of China. For bananas, mangoes, dragon fruit and cocoa that have signed the Protocol on phytosanitary requirements, they can directly enjoy zero tariff treatment or gradually reduce to zero tariff treatment.

Currently, the governments of China and Ecuador are negotiating a protocol on phytosanitary requirements for quinoa and dairy products. Xavier Rosero, president of the Ecuadorian Exporters' Federation (Fedexpor), said only one of each category (fruit, vegetables and dairy) could be selected at each negotiation, depending on the government's priorities. Ecuador's blueberry production base is already relatively developed and will be given priority in negotiations.

Sebastian Mu?, Coordinator of the Ecuadorian Federation of Blueberry Producers and Exporters (FEPEXA) oz said that they have been asking the Plant and Animal Health Regulatory Agency (Agrocalidad) and the Ministry of Agriculture for a year and a half to start the negotiation process, and the government has been very positive and has put blueberries on the priority list. Mu? oz added that the hope is that blueberries will be approved in 2-4 years, rather than waiting 10 years like dragon fruit.

According to the Blueberry Federation, about 300 hectares of blueberries are currently planted in Ecuador, mostly in mountainous areas. In 2023, Ecuador exported 113 tons of blueberries, worth $740,000. Among them, the United States is the most important export destination, accounting for $530,000 of exports.

According to the Blueberry Federation, Ecuador's blueberry exports will increase by 10 percent in 2024 and 15 percent in 2025. Mu? oz said that the industry is significantly increasing the blueberry acreage to 1,000 hectares to meet international market demand, including China.

Ecuador's Nobis owns a 50-hectare blueberry plantation in the Central mountains that will produce 190 tonnes in 2023 and is expected to reach 400 tonnes this year. Five percent of the total is exported, and products under the brand name Blue Star have entered countries and regions such as Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Luis Ponce, head of Nobis' export department, said the company plans to export blueberries to China once it gains market access. In terms of distance and purchasing power, the United States will remain the largest market, followed by China. The Peruvian port of Chankai is scheduled to begin operations in November, and Ponce hopes to ship products to Asian markets such as China through the port, cutting shipping time by more than 10 days. Ponce added that the two main challenges Ecuadorian blueberries will face in the Chinese market are how to compete with the neighboring Peruvian blueberries and how to achieve the quality requirements of the Chinese market while taking into account the transit time.