north-west cherries US

US fruit shipments to South Korea have risen significantly since a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries entered into force on 15 March 2012, Arirang News reports.

Korea’s agriculture ministry stated that imports of oranges and cherries in particular had dramatically increased after the FTA was implemented.

US shipments of oranges to Korea rose by more than 30 per cent from the same period 12 months earlier, making the market worth approximately US$150m.

Korean imports of US cherries saw an increase of close to 80 per cent to a market worth of US$80m.