U.S. Seeks Global Blueberry Probe as Trump Courts Farmers
U.S. Seeks Global Blueberry Probe as Trump Courts Farmers
(Bloomberg) -- The Trump administration is asking the International Trade Commission to open a Section 201 probe into whether a surge in blueberry imports in recent years is harming U.S. growers of the fruit.
The move was touted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to help farmers. It follows a recent request for an investigation of Mexican blueberries.
The steps appear aimed at winning over growers in Georgia, Michigan and Florida, all states in which Trump faces strong competition in his bid for re-election. Any trade restrictions as a result of the probe probably would come after the November election.
Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 gives the U.S. president broad authority to impose tariffs to protect domestic industries. It provides for a “global safeguard” that accounts for imports from all countries.
Multiple nations export blueberries to the U.S., making Section 201 a good tool, as opposed to a country-specific investigation, the Trump administration said earlier this month in a report on seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.
U.S. imports of blueberries have increased about 700% in the past 15 years, from about 50 million pounds in 2005 to almost 400 million pounds in 2018, according to the report.
The value of imports of the fruit into the U.S. has more than doubled since 2014 to $1.2 billion last year, with the bulk coming from Peru, Chile, Mexico, Canada and Argentina, the report shows.
The Trump administration also has said it will work with domestic producers to commence an ITC investigation on imports of strawberries and bell peppers, “which could enable an expedited Section 201 global safeguard investigation later this year.”
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.