Minister Campos and U.S. Tariffs: "The lie they invented to impose this measure on us almost seems like a joke"

The Minister of Agriculture, Jaime Campos, harshly questioned the United States' decision to apply a 12.5% tariff surcharge on part of Chilean exports and described the argument used by Washington to justify the measure as a "lie."

The U.S. resolution came after an investigation conducted under Section 301 of its Trade Act against nearly 60 economies, accused of not prohibiting or effectively monitoring the import of products made through forced labor.

Asked about the measure, Campos stated that it is "terrible news" for Chile.

"Well, in plain Spanish: terrible news. Obviously, regrettable news. What is being done, what has been done regarding Chile, is an arbitrary action by the U.S. government, since it is violating the Free Trade Agreement we had already signed and universal principles of international trade," he argued.

The Secretary of State warned that the surcharge will impose an additional burden on the national export sector, especially agriculture, by reducing its competitiveness compared to other markets. However, his harshest criticism targeted the basis used by the United States to apply the new tariffs.

"Furthermore, the lie they invented to impose this tariff measure on us almost seems like a joke, because claiming that forced labor exists in Chile... not even the greatest enemy of Chilean interests had dared to assert that," he stated.

He said this despite the fact that the United States never accused the country of having forced labor, but rather criticized it for preventing the import of products made through forced labor.

"What can the government do? Beyond talking, negotiating, dialoguing, etc., with a power like the United States. Keep dialoguing. And agriculture, as has happened so many times, and the entire national productive sector, will have to adapt to this new reality," he noted.

Source:Emol.com