After multiple rounds of testimony and fervent advocacy on behalf of American blueberry growers, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has ruled that blueberries were not being imported into the U.S. in such quantities as to harm the industry nationwide.
The ruling comes as a gut shot to domestic producers and industries that have felt and continue to feel the increasing crush of imports on the market.
The American Blueberry Growers Alliance (ABGA) released the following statement regarding the outcome of the ITC’s probe: “The ABGA is disappointed with the decision by the ITC to find that rising imports of foreign-grown blueberries are not a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat of serious injury, to domestic farmers. Throughout this case, blueberry growers across the U.S. provided the ITC with extensive data and personal experiences about the significant harm caused by surging imports on the supply and pricing of blueberries in the U.S. market, especially during our critical growing and harvest seasons. We believed this data and testimony made a compelling case that safeguard measures were critical to the survival of our domestic farmers, and we are disappointed by the Commission’s decision.
“We actively participated in this investigation because we believe U.S. trade laws must support a level playing field for American farmers – one in which lower labor costs and more lax environmental standards in other countries does not drive our domestic growers out of business. The outcome of this investigation reveals deficiencies in U.S. trade laws, which unfortunately will put the long-term viability of the domestic blueberry industry in jeopardy.
“We have received strong support from members of Congress, state elected officials, agricultural associations, and other farm interests throughout this investigation, and we plan to work with these groups on other remedies to ensure that American consumers continue to have access to fresh, high-quality, safe, domestically grown blueberries.
“Meanwhile, our domestic growers will face another year of economic uncertainty as they grow and harvest their 2021 blueberry crop. No doubt, imports will now accelerate to overwhelm our domestic market this year. This will cause even greater hardship on family-owned farm operations, as well as on providers of packing and freezing services, and damage to local communities and tax bases.”
Last month, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was among those that testified before the ITC that Mexico’s market share for blueberries had skyrocketed 2,100% since 2009, while Florida’s market share decreased 38% since 2015, indicating serious economic damage.
Naturally, Fried expressed frustration following the ITC’s formal decision. “Today’s ITC determination is disappointing for our hardworking blueberry growers who have watched foreign imported blueberries unjustly replace Florida’s world-class fruit in the U.S. market,” she said. “This shows the need for greater reforms as Florida’s congressional delegation has proposed that would provide access to effective trade remedies for all seasonal producers – legislation which will be again introduced. The data proves that Florida’s seasonal growers have suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in economic injury from foreign blueberry imports.”
How do you feel about the ITC’s decision? Leave a comment below.