Burma's growers at risk from Chinese imports, labor shortage
Burma's tea growers are struggling to stay in business due to labor shortages and a surge in untaxed tea from neighboring China. The local tea growers' association claims that the biggest cause for concern are tea imports that evade commercial taxes and is calling on the government to impose tax regulations. Local farmers are also at a technological disadvantage compared to their Chinese counterparts, as Chinese production methods have a much higher yield than the traditional organic methods still used by many in Burma. Growers in Namhsan, which accounts for roughly 60% of Burma's tea output, also report labor shortages following a mass exodus of workers to neighboring countries.