U.S. Representative Austin Scott (R-GA-08) and 22 other members of the House want U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to help reduce India’s tariffs on American pecans.
India currently has a 36 percent tariff on American pecans, far higher than the 10 percent tariff on other American tree nuts, like pistachios and almonds.
This, according to a newsletter that Scott emailed to his constituents this week.
Georgia is the nation’s largest supplier of pecans, accounting for about a third of U.S. pecan production, according to the University of Georgia’s cooperative extension office.
Scott and his colleagues wrote Tai and said American pecan producers face many challenges due to rising imports from Mexico, Chinese tariffs, and COVID-19.
“Gaining access to new markets for pecans will help ease the pain while orchards are replanted and as we push China for full implementation of its obligations under the U.S – China Economic and Trade Agreement,” Scott and the other members of the House wrote in their letter.
“Lowering the tariff on pecans would provide the Indian people with more economical access to tree nut varieties, while providing a much-needed economic boost to rural America.”
Scott and his colleagues went on to say that India’s tariffs on U.S. pistachio and almond imports are much lower, at a rate of 10 percent, than those for pecans.
“The pecan industry contributes over $3.57 billion to the economies of the 15 pecan producing states in the United States,” Scott and his colleagues wrote.
“Over the last 10 years, exports alone have pumped an additional $1.25 billion in economic activity into rural America. Reducing trade barriers into India is an opportunity to strengthen the economy of rural America.”
Co-signers of the letter included U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), U.S. Representative David Scott (D-GA-13), U.S. Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA-01), U.S. Representative Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03), U.S. Representative Rick Allen (R-GA-12), and U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09).
Trading Economics reported that Georgia’s main exports are metals, motor cars, nuts, fertilizers, wine, and mineral water.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Austin Scott” by U.S. House Office of Photography. Background Photo “Pecans” by Baileynorwood.
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