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Falls Church, Va. (Jan. 27, 2022)—The U.S. Apple Association today said apple exports to Southeast Asia have declined by 40% in the last three years. The drastic drop in exports is especially being felt as Chinese New Year (Feb. 1) gets underway. The holiday helped secure a large market for the U.S. apple industry prior to a series of retaliatory tariffs imposed by China. USApple is calling on the Biden Administration to eliminate Sec. 232 and 301 tariffs on Chinese products so that China in turn will drop its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products including apples.
“There is a long, rich heritage in Southeast Asian countries of gifting apples as a gesture of friendship and good health during Chinese New Year,” said USApple President and CEO Jim Bair. “This tradition helped carve a prominent space for U.S. apple exports for those celebrations. Sadly, this year most of those apples won’t be from the U.S.”
Overall, U.S. apple exports have taken a big hit in recent years. Washington State, responsible for about 95% of U.S. apple exports, is at a 22-year low with only 21.3% of its apples being exported. This is in comparison to what was a 32% average annual export from Washington State prior to retaliatory tariffs being put in place in 2018. Current Chinese tariffs on U.S. apples are at 50%.
“The U.S. apple industry finally achieved full access to the Chinese market in 2015,” said Bair. “Exports quickly grew to 2.5 million boxes per year making China our sixth largest export market. Sadly, we lost the momentum and growth potential due to the confluence of excessive tariffs, as well continued supply chain and shipping issues. We are continuing to urge the administration to find a solution that will ease the tariffs on U.S. apples.”
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Adams County, PA (December 12, 2023) — The Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Alexis Taylor, visited an apple packer, shipper, and marketer today in Adams County, PA. Under Secretary Taylor toured Rice Fruit Company and discussed trade, jobs, and market conditions impacting the apple industry – … Continued
Lancaster, PA (November 9, 2023)— Doug McKalip, the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), visited an apple orchard today in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Ambassador McKalip toured Cherry Hill Orchards & Farm Market along with Jim Bair, President and CEO of USApple, and others in the apple industry, to discuss … Continued
Washington, D.C. (June 22, 2023) – The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is thrilled with today’s announcement that India will lift its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. apples. We applaud the work of the Biden Administration and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that achieved this important victory. USApple was an invited guest of the White House at the arrival ceremony … Continued
Washington, D.C. (March 15, 2023)—The U.S. Apple Association’s Board of Directors met this morning with White House policy staff at the White House to discuss critical issues impacting the apple industry. Sixteen USApple board members from across the country met with Joan Hurst, director for agricultural affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and … Continued
Chicago (August 18, 2022)— Despite the challenges of the past two and a half years, the U.S. apple industry is alive and well in 2022, according to a new report released by the U.S. Apple Association today at the organization’s 127th annual Outlook Conference in Chicago. USApple’s “Industry Outlook 2022” provides the most up-to-date data and … Continued
Falls Church, Va. (June 16, 2022)—U.S. Apple President and CEO Jim Bair attended a signing ceremony today at the White House for the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. Apple leaders from across the U.S. have long advocated for an overhaul to ocean shipping laws to help clear port blockages and prevent foreign ocean carriers from leaving … Continued
Falls Church, Va. (June 8, 2022)—The U.S. Apple Association today applauded President Biden’s announcement that he intends to nominate Doug McKalip to be chief agricultural trade negotiator in the White House Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. McKalip is well-known to USApple and its leaders, including speaking at a USApple Leadership Luncheon during the organization’s … Continued
Falls Church, Va. (May 26, 2022)—The U.S. Apple Association today joined more than 40 agriculture and food groups to call for the elimination or reduction of U.S. tariffs being imposed on other countries that in turn are harming U.S. agriculture through retaliatory tariffs. In a letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the groups … Continued
Falls Church, Va. (March 9, 2022)—The U.S. Apple Association today launched Apple Quest, an online game that informs players about the important role apple laborers play in the U.S. economy and the need for a stable, legal and reliable workforce. The throwback, 8-bit single-player game is at www.USAppleQuest.com. Apple production—growing, pruning, harvesting and packing—is highly labor-intensive. The … Continued
