U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced a bill that seeks to help farmers better navigate trade barriers to sell more fruits, vegetables, and crops.
The Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act (Specialty CROP Act) responds to continued high tariffs, labeling requirements and other trade barriers that restrict U.S. products from accessing foreign markets.
“The world is hungry for grown-in-the-U.S. blueberries, potatoes, wine and other produce. But all too often our farmers and producers are stymied by unreasonable blockades in foreign markets,” Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said. “Our bipartisan bill will help rural Americans by identifying unfair foreign trade barriers and creating specific plans to cut through that red tape.”
Specifically, the legislation will make key improvements to identify and combat unreasonable trade barriers. Among the provisions, it will:
• Explicitly require participation and engagement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR);
• Highlight specific trade barriers that limit the export competitiveness of specialty crops in specific markets, including tariff and non-tariff barriers;
• Include an assessment of whether each trade barrier is subject to a U.S. FTA or international agreement;
• Include specific information with respect to actions taken, or expected to be taken, by the U.S. government to address or resolve each trade barrier;
• Require a request for comment from both the public and the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables;
• Require the report to be made public, while allowing for a classified annex in order to protect U.S. national security and economic strategy; and
• Continue to define “specialty crop” as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”
“From high tariffs to onerous labeling requirements, America’s specialty crop growers face a range of barriers imposed by foreign nations that hinder their ability to export their high-quality products around the world,” Crapo, ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, said. “Improving the USDA’s Specialty Crop Report will arm producers and trade negotiators with detailed and up-to-date information, helping break down longstanding trade barriers, diversify export markets and expand export opportunities for Idaho’s specialty crop producers.”
It is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Jim Risch (R-ID), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Susan Collins (R-ME).
A companion bill was offered in the House by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) David Valadao (R-CA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
“Oregon is world famous for our specialty crops, and products like blueberries and hazelnuts make up a significant portion of our state’s export economy. Unfortunately, growers face many barriers to foreign markets, which limit their competitiveness,” Bonamici said. “The Specialty CROP Act will improve the USDA’s existing specialty crops trade report to better translate its findings into meaningful action and policy.”
The bill has the support of several organizations including the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, the National Potato Council, the Northwest Horticultural Council, and the North American Blueberry Council.