Blueberry Coalition for Progress & Health commends bicameral, bipartisan letter Opposing Section 201 Investigation into Fresh/Frozen Blueberries
“The Blueberry Coalition for Progress and Health strongly commends Senators Sinema (D-AZ) and Moran (R-KS) and Representatives Cuellar (D-TX) and Schweikert (R-AZ) for leading a bipartisan, bicameral letter raising significant concerns with the Trump Administration’s Section 201 investigation on imported blueberries and Section 332 investigations of imported strawberries, bell peppers, squash, and cucumbers.”
On January 11, 2021, a final Bicameral, Bipartisan Congressional Letter reiterated the importance of cross-border trade and consumer preference
“Some fresh fruits and vegetables are simply not domestically available in sufficient volume during certain months. For example, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and Chile supply blueberries in the off season, ensuring that American families have access to fresh berries even during the winter months, while allowing U.S. growers to respond to increased demand for other produce during that time of year. Filling in gaps of our robust domestic industry is important to ensure consumers have access to produce throughout the year.”
California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) Supports Maintaining Healthy Trading Relationships Between Key Partners
Open, unfettered market access, free from complicated and cumbersome barriers to trade, creates stability and opportunity which are essential for the success of America’s farmers and ranchers. With regards to the United States International Trade Commission’s Section 201 Investigation into the importation of blueberries, we urge the U.S. government to be mindful of the framework of our existing trade agreements and of any potential action taken that may be consequential to the overarching relationships with our trading partners.
More than 30 Food, Agriculture, Retailer Trade Associations and Companies Voice Concerns to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. International Trade Commission.
This letter collectively expresses the associations and companies concerns with the ongoing Section 201 investigation into blueberry imports. Specifically, the signatories make note of potential retaliatory actions from our trading partners, including Canada and Mexico, that could undermine hard fought gains for the U.S. agricultural sector.
On June 24, 2019, a bipartisan, bicameral letter urged the Trump Administration to exclude a “seasonality” provision from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“Using USMCA as a vehicle for pursuing seasonal agriculture trade remedies risks pitting different regions of the country against each other. And, if successful, this tactic will result in higher prices for U.S. consumers, while reducing availability, selection, and quality in the supermarket aisle for items such as tomatoes, avocados, bell peppers, watermelons, strawberries and blueberries, just to name a few.”