Garlic producers warn of crisis and call for measures to block foreign products.

Rising production costs in the domestic market, increased imports, and suspected dumping practices have reduced the competitiveness of garlic producers in Brazil. According to the National Association of Garlic Producers (Anapa), Chinese garlic arrives in the country at a price approximately 15% lower than the cost of Brazilian production. In addition to China, Argentina has also expanded its presence in the domestic market, under suspicion of unfair trade practices. A member of the Parliamentary Agricultural Front (FPA), Deputy Ismael dos Santos (PL-SC), highlighted the situation in Santa Catarina. According to the parliamentarian, this scenario could jeopardize up to 60% of the state's garlic harvest. "Argentina is selling a kilo of garlic in Brazil for R$ 6. The Brazilian producer is selling it for R$ 11, because of the cost. Today, 80% of the garlic produced in Argentina comes to Brazil. What does this mean? We are putting 60,000 jobs at risk in Santa Catarina alone," stated the deputy. The scenario was presented to parliamentarians from the caucus and also to the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MPLSA), André de Paula, during the FPA lunch meeting held last Tuesday (14). Anapa submitted a request with data on production costs in Brazil and the volume of purchases coming from China and Argentina. The document requests two actions. The first is the opening of an antidumping investigation on Argentine garlic. Among the allegations is that the product is entering Brazil outside the required standards and classifications. “It is necessary to open an antidumping investigation, with a view to the technical assessment of competitive conditions and the possible application of trade defense measures,” the association highlighted. The second demand concerns the antidumping measure currently applied to Chinese suppliers. Last year, the government set the price commitment for the import of a 10-kilogram box of garlic from China at US$ 16.90. Since then, the price has been adjusted to US$15.80, and Anapa warns that in the next review, it could fall to US$15. According to the association's president, Rafael Corsino, the cost of production in Brazil alone already exceeds this amount. "With the war and other factors, our cost, which was US$23 per box, is now at US$24," he stated during the meeting. The organization's request is for a review of the model adopted by Brazil in the price commitment mechanism applied to Chinese garlic.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.