BANGKOK — After four years of negotiations, Washington has finally agreed to import six varieties of Thai fruits for the first time, beginning from this July 23, a Thai Commerce Ministry spokesman said.

The fruits to be imported are lychees, longans, mangos, mangosteens, pineapples and rambutans.

Quoting spokesman Krisada Piamphongsarn, the Thailand news agency (TNA) reported that the US Agriculture Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service had given the green light to import the fruits, which would enable the kingdom to earn an added US$20 million (US$1=RM3.45) annually from fruit exports.

Krisada said his ministry and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry were holding talks with Thai exporters on ways to ensure that fruits which would be exported to the US must be free of agricultural diseases.

The US consumes about 100,000 tonnes of fruit annually while its production is only 10,000 tonnes, he said, adding that several competing countries, particularly China and Vietnam are also eyeing the US market.

In 2006, Thailand exported goods to the United states valued at US$19.45 billion, without fruit. This year, exports to the US are projected at US$20.62 billion.

Thailand last year exported fruit worldwide amounting to US$1.81 billion, while it plans to export fruit valued at about US$2 billion this year.

– BERNAMA

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