Border Trade Alliance Asks USTR to Reject Produce Section 301 Investigation
The Border Trade Alliance, which previously came out against a Florida request to the administration to open a Section 301 investigation on produce imports from Mexico, sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on the matter Sept. 21.
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"While our organization is skeptical generally of tariffs because of their market distorting effects and because they increase prices on key manufacturing inputs and on consumers, the claims made by the Florida delegation in this case are particularly ludicrous," the group wrote.
It added, "The petition does not identify an 'unfair act' by Mexico and makes vague references to alleged government subsidies without providing evidence of any existing or current subsidy."
The alliance noted that grocery prices are up more than 13% compared with a year ago. "Curbing the importation of fresh produce from Mexico would only exacerbate an already untenable situation."