The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has requested that an investigation on imports of blueberries are hurting U.S. growers be launched by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).
USTR Robert Lighthizer said the request was being made under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 and was among steps the administration is taking to “support American producers of seasonal and perishable agricultural commodities.”
Depending on the outcome, the investigation could result in “safeguard” tariffs being put in place on blueberry imports. The administration held two listening sessions earlier this year relative to fresh produce issues and said in a report issued September 1 that it would request the ITC initiate the Section 201 investigation on blueberries.
Typically, Section 201 investigations are triggered by a domestic industry, as this request by USTR marks only the second time in 25 years that USTR has requested such an investigation.
USTR said that 98% of total U.S. blueberry imports came from five countries since 2014 and that the value of those imports has more than doubled since 2014.