Twenty-two members of the Florida congressional delegation, led by Reps. Darren Soto and Bill Posey wrote a letter to Acting U.S. Trade Representative Maria Pagan expressing concerns over retaliatory tariffs placed by the European Union (EU) on U.S. agricultural products. The letter focused on the harm the EU tariffs could do to Florida grapefruit.
Here’s the full text of the letter:
“We write today to express our continued concern over retaliatory tariffs placed by the European Union (EU) on a host of U.S. agriculture products, specifically the citrus industry, late last year in the wake of the ongoing Boeing/Airbus trade dispute between the United States and the EU.
“These tariffs have had a devastating impact on citrus, particularly Florida grapefruit, worsening the already difficult market conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Because fresh citrus and citrus juices are subject to the retaliatory tariff, fresh Florida grapefruit is among the most adversely impacted. Typically, 40% of Florida’s fresh grapefruit production is destined for EU markets. With the addition of a 25% retaliatory tariff on top of the existing 1.5% tariff (a 1,700 percent increase) exports of Florida grapefruit to one of their biggest markets has shrunk significantly.
“Without immediate relief there is …..
Read the remainder of the letter and more about Florida Representatives Concerned About EU Grapefruit Tariffs on the Citrus Industry website.