Uncle Sam to miss Indian mangoes again

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NEW DELHI: Despite promises made by US President George Bush last year to end the 17-year-old ban on Indian mangoes, the US agriculture department does not seem to be in a mood to oblige. The department has laid down that exports from India could be allowed only after mango consignments are duly inspected and certified by a US official prior to being shipped.

While the condition may appear innocuous, it results in a cost escalation of an estimated $3 per mango for the exporters who are supposed to bear the transport and accommodation costs of the US official. This makes export of mangoes to the US unfeasible for India.

The Indian commerce department has taken up the matter with the US government asking for a relook. Meanwhile, exporters who were hoping to send their mangoes to the US this summer will have to wait for at least another year.

Speaking to ET, commerce department officials said the department has asked the US government to reconsider the condition as Indian exporters do not have enough margins to bear the travel costs of the inspector. “We do not have a problem with getting the consignments inspected by a US official provided they pay for themselves,” an official added.

So much for that nukes for mangoes agreement...

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