FOLLOWING a recent clearance by the Mexican government for countries to bid for quotas to export rice into that country, Guyana is negotiating prices with Mexican companies who are interested in this country’s rice.

According to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Mexico’s National Service of Health, Safety and Agro-Food Quality (SENASICA) recently approved imports of paddy from these shores. In addition, SENASICA is currently processing Guyana’s SPS certificate to import rice, the release stated.

It was noted that several countries, including Guyana, are set to make a bid for exports to the Mexican rice market. As such, negotiations have been ongoing between the Ministers of Agriculture of both countries to ensure Guyana satisfies the necessary criteria to be a part of the bidding process.

According to the release, applications can only be made in quotas of 10,000 metric tonnes and each country is only allowed to apply for three (3) quotas. In addition, following a recent exposition in the Spanish –speaking country, Guyana began negotiating prices with companies in Mexico that expressed interest in purchasing paddy during the recently concluded Exposition.

Representatives from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association, along with other private millers recently attended the Expo Antad in Guadalajara, Mexico.

During a visit, Mexican Ambassador to Guyana and Plenipotentiary Representative to CARICOM, Ivan Sierra, made provisions for the team to liaison with the authorities there. This information was later published in the Mexican official Gazette.

The release in the Mexico’s Official Gazette stated that during January to December 2017, the Government of Mexico granted approval for 150,000 metric tonnes of paddy and rice products to enter Mexico from outside of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), free of the payment of taxes (zero taxes).

On a normal basis, taxes by countries other than NAFTA member states trading with Mexico, are required at a rate of 9% on paddy and 20% on rice products, the release added.