Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the trade agreement reached between the U.S. and India to drop retaliatory tariffs on Washington apples that have hurt farmers since 2018.

“Today’s agreement is a major win for Washington’s apple growers who rely on selling their fruit overseas to make ends meet. For five years, India’s retaliatory tariffs have severely restricted U.S. apples from being sold in the Indian market, hurting our growers and the over 68,000 jobs in Washington they support. I have personally raised this issue repeatedly with both the Trump and Biden administrations, including with Ambassador Tai when she visited our farmers in 2021. I welcome her success and the Biden administration’s leadership in resolving this issue.”

Background:

• Last year, Washington apple exports totaled over $640 million.
• In 2017, Washington apple exports to India reached a record $120 million, our 2^nd largest apple export market.
• In 2018, India imposed retaliatory tariffs of 20% on U.S. apples in response to the Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum.
• Since then, these tariffs have significantly hurt our farmers’ market share in India. Last season, WA apple farmers exported barely $3 million to India.
• DelBene and other members of the WA delegation have repeatedly called on USTR to work with India to remove the apple tariffs, including in 2018 and most recently in January of this year.
• In August 2021, DelBene hosted U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai for a roundtable with Washington agriculture producers, farmers, and ranchers where she and apple growers had the opportunity to raise the apple tariffs directly. [PICS]