In the wake of the U.S. International Trade Commission’s ruling on imported blueberries, various industry organizations provided comments in response.
ASOEX, the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association:
The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association and its Blueberry Committee thank everyone who made it possible for our blueberry industry to continue exporting to the US market in the same current conditions, especially to the Undersecretary of Relations International Economics, the Chilean Ambassador in Washington, and the legal team hired jointly with the authorities of our government.
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas:
“The ITC’s determination spells future success for the recently negotiated U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA),” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer. “Had the ITC tagged Mexico or Canada for injury or trade remedies, this could have unraveled the promise of the trade agreement, because the proposal to a have seasonal produce tariffs was rejected by USMCA negotiators.”
Blueberry Coalition for Progress & Health:
The Blueberry Coalition for Progress and Health applauds the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) determination that imported blueberries have not injured the domestic industry.
The U.S. blueberry industry is healthy and thriving. Together with imports, the U.S. industry is working hard to keep up with the year-round and growing marketplace demand for this healthy and nutritious fruit.
U.S. per capita consumption of blueberries has experienced a more than 300% since 2005 and is now at an all-time high of 1.79 pounds per person. Restricting blueberry imports into the U.S. would have limited consumers’ access to these healthy, delicious, and nutritional berries with no benefit to U.S. producers.
We look forward to continuing to provide the American market with our healthy and delicious fruit.
Akin Gump, the attorney representing Blueberry Coalition for Progress and Health:
Partner Matthew Nicely, who led the Akin Gump team, commented, “We are pleased with the ITC’s determination in this case. Thanks to a strong factual record and key assistance from our economic consultants, we were able to prove that the U.S. blueberry industry is thriving, and that restricting imports would have only harmed consumers and provided no benefit to the domestic industry.”
