CHINA
Concern over the spread of the Zika virus has reached China where coffee shipments already have been held up in Chinese ports. Now exports passing through the United States are under scrutiny.
The Washington Post reports China recently added the U.S. to its list of Zika-infected countries and that concerns US exporters who are facing possible container fumigation costs.
Brazilian exporters already have reported problems. While Chinese rules state fumigation may take place in either China or the exporting country, acceptance of foreign fumigation documents is a hit-or-miss proposition depending on Chinese ports and local customs officials.
Two Brazilian exporters shipping coffee and spices in June to China reported containers were delayed in Shanghai for about a week because fumigation certificates were not accepted, according to the Washington Post. One exporter reported the pesticide ruined the coffee shipments in several containers.
As many as 60 countries are now on the Chinese Zika list, including several in South America.