Strawberries
The US government is broadening its trade measures against Canadian food producers, announcing three separate investigations into blueberries, bell peppers and strawberries.
They include a ‘Global Safeguard’ investigation into blueberries, and fact-finding investigations into bell peppers and strawberries. As the investigations have implications for products across production types including field and greenhouse, and all regions, several working groups at the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) are engaged says Rebecca Lee, executive director.
Blueberries: On Sept. 29, the United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer formally requested that the US International Trade Commission (USITC) launch a Section 201 Global Safeguard investigation into whether the imports of Canadian blueberries are causing injury to domestic US producers. On October 23, the USITC issued its foreign producer questionnaire, to which Canadian blueberry producers and exporters were required to respond by November 16.
The USITC’s investigation will lead to a recommendation by next March as to whether the US President should impose a duty or a quantitative restriction on imports into the United States, including those from Canada.
“In order to defend your interests and increase the likelihood that no such tariff or quota will be imposed, it is very important that Canadian producers fully participate in the investigation, by filling out the foreign producer questionnaire,” said Lee.
Lighthizer subsequently asked for similar investigations of bell pepper and strawberry imports, which may transition into an expedited Global Safeguard investigation as has already happened with blueberries.
After this, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) could recommend tariffs and duties against foreign producers, including Canada.
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