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September 20, 2006
 
Hawaii Legislators ask USDA to Drop Favored Treatment for Thai Tropical Fruit Imports 

Bush Administration Decision would Hurt Hawaii Growers
 
Washington, DC -- U.S. Senators and Dan Inouye and Daniel Akaka have joined Congressman Neil Abercrombie in asking the Bush Administration to stop implementation of new import rules that would open the United States to specialty tropical fruit from Thailand.  The change would allow cheaper, lower quality Thai pineapples, mangoes, longan, litchi, rambutan and mangosteen to be sold in the United States for the first time.

 

“The specialty fruit industry is one of Hawaii’s real success stories, exhibiting dramatic growth and amazing promise in just a few short years,” said Abercrombie. “The Senators and I are going to do everything we can to protect it from any threat of unfair competition.”

 

Hawaii is the only state that grows some of these specialty tropical fruits, and local growers are concerned that they will be at a competitive disadvantage with Thai products, which are indirectly subsidized by the Thai government.  There are also fears that protections against plant pests and diseases in Thailand will not be monitored by U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS),which could lead to the spread of pests and diseases into the United States.  Scientists at University of Hawaii—Manoa have also expressed concern that, without strict monitoring, the importation of Thai fruit could introduce new species of pests, disease and bacteria into Hawaiian tropial fruit.  As a result, the lawmakers have asked APHIS to prohibit Thai fruits from being shipped into Hawaii, even if such shipment is allowed into the mainland.

                                                      

“Our state’s specialty tropical fruit industry is a story of hard work and self-sufficient, entrepreneurial spirit,” said Senator Inouye. “I am very disappointed that the Administration seems to care so little about the livelihoods of these American farmers.”

 

Senator Akaka pointed out, “Growers are concerned that this change in import rules puts them on an unfair playing field with Thailand, as Thailand enjoys very favorable trade and tariff treatment by the United States, employs far cheaper laborers and indirectly subsidizes its farmers.” 

 

The group of Hawaii growers had asked the USDA for a 4-month extension in the time allowed for the public to comment on proposed changes in federal rules and regulations, but was turned down.  The comment period ends on Monday, September 25th.

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