Import and export requirements and procedures Venezuela-United States

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to present a general information on the issues involved in exporting and importing fresh vegetables from Venezuela to United States or vice versa. This paper provides an easy manual to be used for understanding the procedures and regulations established in both countries for importing and exporting vegetables. Also, it offers an economic study of the export of green pepper from Venezuela to United States. The Venezuelan population is 23.9 million and a growing population of 1.56% (CIA, 2001). Venezuela is located in South America continent. Its extraordinary geographic location and closeness to Miami Beach, a United States port, lets Venezuela keep an important market opportunity for exporting and importing products from United States, as well as with European and African markets. The Venezuelan tropical climate permits Venezuela to grow fresh vegetables without inconvenient temperatures. The United States population is 278.05 million people and a growing population of 0.9% (CIA, 2001). The United States is located in the entire midsection of the North American continent. The dramatic temperature changes and, in some areas of the United States the winter season have affected the fresh vegetables production. The United States is leading the demand for vegetables with tomatoes at 35%, 17% for peppers and onions 7%. Even though United States green peppers production is increasing over the last decade, the demand for green pepper still remains. The main competition for the export of green peppers from Venezuela to the United States is Mexico, who is leading the import market of vegetables in the United States. Among the production and competition, there are some others issues to consider when entering a market in Venezuela. Those issues are corruption and long processing times at the Venezuelan ports and the current political situation. The long times in port is a normal process in Venezuela. Venezuela has been scored a 2.8 on a scale of 0 to 10 by the International Transparency Corruption Perception Index of 2001. In the scale of corruption 10 represents an uncorrupted country. The political situation is the most important factor. Venezuela has been over uncertainty since 1998, when President Hugo Chavez won the election. The political situation is unknown, as well as the currency devaluation.