On November 21, 2019 the National Pecan Federation, joined by 14 other specialty crop agricultural organizations, composed a letter to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, asking him to consider the damage being done to farmers in the US by the continued high tariffs being placed on US agricultural products entering the Chinese market. 

 

The trade war between the US and China has taken a hefty toll on US farmers, especially those who produce specialty ag products such as pecans. The continued high tariffs have all but closed off the world’s largest market (China) to many of theses specialty ag products. 

 

The National Pecan Federation joined by, Almond Alliance of California, American Pistachio Growers, California Avocado Commission, California Citrus Mutual, California Farm Bureau Federation, California Fig Advisory Board, California Fresh Fruit Association, California Prune Board, California Table Grape Commission, California Walnut Commission, Sun-Maid Growers of California, National Pecan Federation, Northwest Horticultural Council, U.S. Apple Association, Western Growers Association, composed a letter to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, asking him to please open this crucial market to these agricultural industries who depend upon it for their livelihood. 

 

The trade war between the US and China has cost millions of dollars to US farmers with prices of many of these products plummeted with the onset of the trade war. Now moving through its second year and second harvest season in the US some farmers may not be able to weather this continued storm. 

 

In the pecan industry alone the trade war has been estimated to cost growers more than 150 million dollars per year, farm gate value; and this is only one of the US specialty ag industries affected. This of course does not include the lost revenue to service providers of these industries, which is where the majority of farm revenue reenters the local economy. 

 

Read a full copy of the letter below.