Jamaican Farmers Warn Against Duty Removal On Costa Rican Dairy Products
Jamaican beef and dairy farmers yesterday marched on the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture in Kingston to protest against a proposal by government to remove customs duties on beef products imported from Costa Rica.

The farmers, some of whom journeyed more than 100 miles from Westmoreland in the western section of the island, said the proposal, if implemented, would devastate the sector even more than when Jamaica began importing milk powder 14 years ago.

However, Jamaica's Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke said yesterday that he was surprised that the cattle farmers had come to protest at his office as no decision had been taken on the duty removal.

According to the farmers, the proposal was also coming at a time when the cattle industry was only beginning to recover from a slump.

The Beef and Dairy Producers Association of Jamaica said it was informed, by letter, that the ministry was seeking to amend the Caricom/Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement, to provide duty free entry for some Costa Rican beef products.

"In the interim, this ministry will support an application for duty exemption for these items to be imported from Costa Rica on a duty-free basis," the letter to the farmers read.