Fruit and Nut Tariffs Estimated to Cost $3.4 Billion Annually
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A new study from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Issues Center finds that tariffs on 10 fruit and tree nut exports alone are estimated to cost the United States $3.4 billion annually. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, fruit and tree nuts account for more than half of the state’s agricultural exports. Fruits and nuts are unlikely to receive direct payments through the Market Facilitation Program and will be limited to the Food Purchase and Distribution Program as part of the Trump administration’s $12 billion relief package.
The study was released as U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited California’s Central Valley at a time when farmers are paying the price of the trade war and potentially losing their markets to foreign competitors.
"The trade war comes with a steep price for farmers in California and across the country," said Farmers for Free Trade Executive Director Brian Kuehl. "Producers and growers have spent years cultivating markets for commodity exports only to see foreign competitors capture those markets overnight. Tariffs hurt American farmers by depressing prices and taking away their ability to compete. We hope Secretary Perdue hears from farmers who are experiencing the pain caused by tariffs firsthand and urges the president to change course before any more damage is done."
"Lawmakers are advancing policies that hurt the very people who drive our economy," Kuehl added. "These roundtables will share the stories of farmers, manufacturers, workers and families who have been hurt by the trade war through lost jobs and cancelled contracts. The UC study only further drives the point that tariffs are hammering America’s heartland, and the trade war comes with heavy costs for American producers and businesses that rely on exports to pay their bills, put people to work and drive our economy."
"Lawmakers are advancing policies that hurt the very people who drive our economy," Kuehl added. "These roundtables will share the stories of farmers, manufacturers, workers and families who have been hurt by the trade war through lost jobs and cancelled contracts. The UC study only further drives the point that tariffs are hammering America’s heartland, and the trade war comes with heavy costs for American producers and businesses that rely on exports to pay their bills, put people to work and drive our economy."
Article source: Farmers for Free Trade.
