Apple Exports 2026
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Whether it’s tariffs and bumpy negotiations with other countries, the cost of transportation, or any other problem, trade is filled with challenges for agriculture.
But, Michael Schadler, president of the Washington Apple Commission, says apple exports aren’t doing too bad …
SCHADLER … “You know, okay. You know the only kind of retaliation we’ve had is with China and since that market had become so diminished for us since 2018, the fact that there was some additional retaliation over the last year really hasn’t hurt us.”
Besides China, Schadler says they’ll just keep watching to see how trade talks with other countries develop …
SCHADLER … “There’s been threats of retaliation from other countries. Of course, it would be concerning if things didn’t work out with India and we got slapped with an additional punitive tariff on the Indian market like we had before. But so far, to be honest, I think there’s actually more potential room for optimism than pessimism.”
And Schadler says there has been good news that’s come from the talks …
SCHADLER … “I mean we’ve seen some new deals get struck. We see movement with, perhaps, a chance to open up the Japanese market, maybe down the road, even South Korea. We’ve seen trade deals with Vietnam, with Thailand, with Indonesia that have the potential to open up those markets even more and lower some tariffs. So, knock on wood, we’re doing okay right now.”
And of course, Schadler says they’ll closely follow the USMCA talks later this year with our two biggest trading partners, Canada and Mexico.
