Removal of Apple Tariffs Pt 1

Removal of Apple Tariffs Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. Cheers could be heard coming from Washington apple country after it was announced tariffs would be dropped for many producers that ship to our neighbors to the north and south.

Washington Apple Commission spokesperson, Toni Lynn Adams says it was the news they'd all been waiting for ...

ADAMS ... "So, U.S., Canada, and Mexico reached an agreement. The 232, steel and aluminum tariffs were dropped and in response Mexico repealed the retaliatory tariffs on U.S. apples, removing that 20% duty on entry."

Which, Adams says is a very big deal ...

ADAMS ... "This is absolutely welcome news to the Washington apple industry as we export one-third of our fresh apple crop and Mexico is our number one export market."

And, she says the timing was pretty good too ...

ADAMS ... "So this is good news to hear at this point because we are entering into the last few months of the export season. We still have a couple of more months left of shipments and Mexico has demand for Washington apples year-round."

And the help, Adams says should be immediate ...

ADAMS ... "So, the impact will be felt right away. It really makes a big difference and so we are happy to hear that the end of the export season will be on a positive note with our top export market."

Exports to Mexico are down 29.3% this year compared to the 2017-18 season.

The retaliatory tariffs were implemented in June of last year.

Listen tomorrow for more on this great tariff news for Washington apple growers and what it could mean for the USMCA.

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