On February 11, the USITC will vote on whether the importation of blueberries into the US has caused damage to the local sector or not
US Trade International Commission (USITC) Office
On October 06, 2020, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) began the investigation process, within the framework of Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, in order to determine to what extent the increase in imports of blueberries, has caused serious injury or threat of injury to US producers of that product.
This, within the framework of an investigation requested by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office by letter of September 29 to the USITC, which includes organic, wild, fresh and frozen cultivated blueberries. The investigation has a term of duration. 180 days. "This is an investigation that does not target a specific country, but rather all imported blueberries as a whole," said Ronald Bown, President of ASOEX.
The first public hearing was held on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, as part of the investigation process and its scheduling. However, it is important to note that, previously, all the countries involved, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Mexico and Peru submitted reports for consideration by the members of the USITC commission. So, at Tuesday's public hearing, both parties, the one in favor of imposing safeguards, like the one opposing, presented their arguments and answered questions from commissioners.
In this regard, the leader observed that, from the beginning of the investigative process, work has been done in a fully coordinated manner between the Subrei, the Embassy of our country in the United States, and the private sector. “We have a common legal advisory office in the United States, and the Chilean Ambassador to the United States, Alfonso Silva; the Undersecretary of Subrei, Rodrigo Yañez, as well as representatives of the national private sector and legal advisers in the US ”, he highlighted.
Likewise, it is important to point out that the Chilean Blueberry Committee-ASOEX is part of the Blueberry Coalition for Progress and Health, which is made up of local US companies and producers, as well as blueberry companies and trade associations from the different countries involved in the investigation, and whose objective is to oppose the possible limitations on trade in blueberries to the United States.
The coalition is made up of: Agroberries SA, Alpine Fresh Inc., Aneberries AC, Berries Paradise SAPI de CV, California Giant Berry Farms, Camposol Fresh USA, Inc, Driscoll's, Inc., Family Tree Farms, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Giddings Berries, Hortifruit, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, Pro Arandanos, United Exports Limited, Reiter Affiliated Companies, Chilean Blueberry Committee and Chilealimentos.
This coalition, during the hearing, argued that imports are not the substantial cause of the serious damage to the US blueberry industry, but rather that they have allowed the development of a healthy and prosperous US blueberry market.
Finally, it is important to mention that on February 11, the USITC commissioners must vote on whether or not there is damage to local producers. If the commission determines that there is no serious harm to local producers, the process ends, but if they vote in favor, that is, that there is this damage as a result of the investigation, safeguard measures could be imposed for a specified time. Everything will depend on the recommendation I sent the USITC to the President of the USA, who will finally be the one to decide to implement or not the measurements.
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