U.S. Gets Green Light for Blueberry Exports to Vietnam

Vietnam will allow the import of fresh blueberries from the world’s biggest producer, the U.S., making way for the first shipments to come in mid-May, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The berries received Vietnam’s approval after meeting sanitary and phytosanitary import rules, said Gerald Smith, senior USDA attache at the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. He did not elaborate on the rules, but the U.S. has long pushed Vietnam to apply scientific, risk-based SPS measures, as opposed to conducting redundant or arbitrary tests, seen as technical barriers to trade.

“Basically, this was a pending market access [issue],” ...