U.S. Apple Association's statement on USTR rejection of 301 investigation

Published 2022년 10월 24일

Tridge summary

The U.S. apple industry has expressed relief after the U.S. Trade Representative decided not to proceed with the 301 Investigation on imported fruits and vegetables from Mexico. This decision comes as a welcome move to avoid the potential imposition of tariffs on Mexican produce, which could have led to retaliatory actions against U.S. apples, as seen in the past. The U.S. Apple Association, among other groups, had previously voiced strong opposition to such an investigation, citing the economic difficulties faced by the industry due to rising fuel, fertilizer, and labor costs. Mexico is a crucial market for U.S. apple exports, with trade value surging by 45% in 2021, totaling $349 million, and the industry fears that potential tariffs could jeopardize the growth and the 150,000 jobs supported by the apple sector.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Statement by Jim Bair, President & CEO, U.S. Apple Association BB #:145473October 23, 2022 — “The U.S. apple industry is relieved by the U.S. Trade Representative’s decision to reject the 301 Investigation on imported fruits and vegetables from Mexico. A Section 301 investigation could have been followed by tariffs on imported produce and, in turn, retaliatory tariffs from Mexico. That has happened in the past where U.S. apples were the targets of retaliation. We acknowledge that other sectors of the fresh produce industry are facing their own difficult challenges, but the U.S. Trade Representative came to the correct conclusion, and we are thankful. “USApple joined other groups in a letter to Ambassador Katherine Tai strongly opposing any Section 301 investigation of fresh produce imports from Mexico. The inflationary impacts of fuel, fertilizer and labor costs have created strong headwinds for apple growers. An investigation and pressure for relief in the form of tariffs would ...

Source: Producebluebook