Enjoy Australian Navel Oranges Cheaper with 0% Tariffs

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] From this summer, you will be able to enjoy sweet navel oranges at an affordable price.

Emart will sell Australian navel oranges in 2kg bags for 7,980 won starting from the 16th. The price of oranges has continuously decreased since the free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia in 2014, as tariffs have been gradually reduced.

In particular, this year is the first year when the summer tariff rate becomes 0%. However, to protect domestic tangerine farms, a 50% tariff will be re-imposed on oranges starting in October. The tariff period is until February for US-origin oranges and until March for Australian-origin oranges, with 0% tariffs applied during other periods.

Accordingly, Emart has prepared 360 tons (t) of stock, five times more than last year. Next month, they plan to diversify Australian orange varieties, including blood oranges and Cara Cara oranges.

Woo Min-seong, Emart’s fruit buyer, said, “Due to tariff elimination and diversification of production areas, we can now offer sweet navel oranges at affordable prices even in summer,” adding, “From October, when the 50% tariff is applied, we plan to continuously supply navel oranges at low prices by discovering new production areas.”