26 May 2010

ARGENTINA: Trade Policies May Trigger Ham And Cheese War.

BLOOMBERG/     Trade wars with Argentina's biggest customers may be brewing if Commerce Secretary Guillermo Moreno limits purchases abroad as he studies “the competitiveness” of the national market. Imports of French cheese, Italian ham and Brasil's corn would be limited to protect its food industry from foreign competition. Reprisals would hurt Argentina’s $56 billion of annual exports, about 17% of GDP. French cheese, Dutch beer, Italian pasta, canned pineapple from Indonesia, bell peppers from Peru, and candies from Brasil are currently being delayed at Argentina’s borders and ports.