American Pistachio Growers Testify On U.S. Free Trade Agreement

By Growing Produce Staff|June 11, 2013

Thomas Dille, Vice Chairman of American Pistachio Growers (APG), recently appeared before the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Office Trade Policy Staff Committee to provide testimony on the priorities of the U.S. pistachio industry. The hearing begins the work of USTR to set goals and benchmarks for the Agreement as well as hear the concerns and objectives of U.S. businesses within the confines of the Agreement.

In his comments, Dille set three priorities for the U.S. pistachio market under a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement: first, the immediate elimination of pistachio tariffs; second, the harmonizing of sanitary and phytosanitary standards; and third, the establishment of a precertification aflatoxin export inspection program for product destined for Europe.

Dill said achieving these goals under the agreement would save millions of dollars for the industry. Dille also mentioned the importance of the agreement in terms of how Iran is a beneficiary of Europe’s Generalized Systems of Preference program and how despite U.S. and other national sanctions, it pays no duty when exporting to Europe.

APG was among a representative group of fruit, vegetable and tree nut organizations who came to Washington, DC, to provide testimony.

The APG is a voluntary trade association representing members who are pistachio growers, processors, and industry partners in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. These states represent 100% of the domestic commercial pistachio production. For more information, visit www.AmericanPistachios.org.