Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Rep. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on Wednesday introduced legislation to require the Agriculture Department to make an annual report to Congress describing market access barriers facing specialty crop exporters and the administration’s efforts to resolve them “more meaningful and actionable.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Jim Risch, R-Idaho; Angus King, I-Maine; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.
Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif., and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., are introducing House companion legislation.
“Specialty crop production is central to Idaho’s economy and our identity as a state,” Crapo said. “Idaho farmers can outgrow the world, but high tariffs and burdensome labeling requirements imposed by foreign nations threaten our rural communities and keep agricultural producers from accessing global markets. Detailed and up-to-date information from USDA and USTR will help specialty crop growers navigate foreign markets and inform congressional and presidential efforts to address trade barriers and expand export opportunities.”
“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 said. “Our bipartisan bill will help rural Americans by identifying unfair foreign trade barriers and creating specific plans to cut through that red tape.”
The North American Blueberry Council, the Northwest Horticultural Council and the National Potato Council all endorsed the bill.