Trade Investigation & Retaliation Pt 1
With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. The investigation led by the U.S. Trade Representative’s office to find out if blueberry imports are undercutting domestic growers could be a problem for U.S. apple and pear growers that fear retaliation would impact them.
Northwest Horticultural Council president Mark Powers says we’ve seen retaliation from trading partners like Mexico, India and China, among others, too many times …
POWERS … “When we talk about unfair, talk about unfair imports, right now, our growers are facing unfair retaliation and there doesn’t appear to be, really, any recourse for our growers in the event of retaliation, and working out and negotiating a solution after retaliation has been instituted is, what we’re seeing is a track record of years. So, while a different industry is being assisted, ours is being harmed.”
And, Powers says these are not simply unintended consequences …
POWERS … “At this point, you can’t say that it’s unintended. There’s plenty of evidence that indicates that it will happen. So, that’s where groups like ours have been raising the cautionary flags saying wait, wait, wait, we know people need help and other sectors need help, so find a way to help them, but do so in a manner that doesn’t end up costing our growers, yet again, financial pain.”
Powers says one solution could be a better system of promoting domestic crops so American consumers know they have a choice when buying their products.
