18 Months…and Still Waiting
Washington,
Oct 8 -
Starting in March 2009, Mexico began imposing 20 percent tariffs on 90 American products including potatoes, pears, cherries, and apricots – costing American farmers millions and putting jobs here in Central Washington at risk. These tariffs are in retaliation for the United States failing to meet international trade obligations.
Last month, Mexico expanded these tariffs to include apples just as the 2010 harvest got underway. Mexico is Washington’s largest apple export market, and it is estimated that this new tariff will cost our growers up to $44 million per year.
Yet, more than 18 months later there is no end in sight, no plan and no public effort by this Administration to protect the number one industry in our state.
On September 16th, the Administration released a report on its National Export Initiative. The report noted that the goal of doubling exports over five years “will only happen if U.S. companies, farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises – the engines of economic growth – receive the encouragement and support they need as they seek new markets for their goods and services.”
Yet, the report is silent on the Mexican tariff issue.
Eighteen months is far too long to leave U.S. farmers and manufacturers without answers. While Washington state’s agriculture economy and jobs are left at risk, repeated requests for details about any plan for a resolution to the Mexican tariff dispute have been met with silence. The Administration’s ‘trust-us-we’re-working-on-it’ excuse is growing old and our farmers and agriculture producers deserve better.
That’s why I’ve written to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to again press for an immediate solution. Our agriculture economy is dependent upon a level playing field and a fair opportunity to participate in the global market. Instead of more bailouts and stimulus spending plans, our agriculture communities need a swift resolution to the Mexican tariff issue in order to protect Washington state jobs.
If the Administration is serious about getting our economy back on track and increasing U.S. exports, a plan to resolve this job-killing dispute with Mexico must be a top priority, the Teamsters Union can no longer be allowed to block a resolution and fair trade agreements like the pending deal with Colombia must move forward.
