Wenatchee Times

WASHINGTON, DC – On June 22, 2023, U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) celebrates a huge win for fruit growers in Washington’s 8th district.The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced they have reached an agreement with India to lift Section 232 tariffs on US apple exports to India. The Indian government imposed a 20% tax increase on U.S. apples after the U.S. imposed tariffs on India for steel and aluminum in 2018 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. This news comes at an important time, as Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visits the United States.   

The tree fruit industry has suffered significant losses due to India’s retaliation for U.S. Section 232 tariffs. On average, 30 percent of the apples, cherries, and pears produced in the Pacific Northwest are exported. With retaliatory tariffs in place, Washington state apple growers have continuously lost market shares in India.   

Washington apples make up to 90-95% of apples exported from the United States, and prior to the implementation of these tariffs, India was Washington State’s number two export market. Washington was exporting around $120 million worth of apples to India in 2018. In 2022 Washington farmers barely exported $3 million worth of apples.  

"The removal of this tariff is a lifesaver for tree fruit growers in Washington state. They saw a $120 million market dwindle to $3 million because of retaliatory tariffs imposed by India. Orchardists were on the brink of losing their family farms," said Rep. Schrier. "Since taking office, I have called on the United States Trade Representative’s office to push India to remove these tariffs, and I am grateful to Ambassador Katherine Tai for making this possible. Family farmers in WA-08 know that I hear them and I’m fighting for them; that I want what’s best for trade, their livelihoods, for Wenatchee Valley, and Washington state."  

“Today’s agreement is a major win for Washington’s apple growers who rely on selling their fruit overseas to make ends meet,” said Rep. DelBene. “For five years, India’s retaliatory tariffs have severely restricted U.S. apples from being sold in the Indian market, hurting our growers and the over 68,000 jobs in Washington they support. I have personally raised this issue repeatedly with both the Trump and Biden administrations, including with Ambassador Tai when she visited our farmers in 2021. I welcome her success and the Biden administration’s leadership in resolving this issue” 

“This agreement is good news for Washington tree fruit growers,” said Rep. Larsen. “I applaud Representative Schrier and Senator Cantwell for leading the charge to help farmers and growers in the Pacific Northwest create more jobs and grow the regional agricultural economy.” 

Representative Schrier is joined in celebrating this historic win for tree fruit growers by the entire Washington state Congressional delegation, including Senator Cantwell (D-WA), Senator Murray (D-WA), and Representatives DelBene (D, WA-01), Larsen (D, WA-02), Gluesenkamp Pérez (D, WA-03), Newhouse (R, WA-04), McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05), Kilmer (D, WA-06), Jayapal (D, WA-07), Smith (D, WA-09), and Strickland (D, WA-10). 

Original source can be found here.