Listen
New tariffs on exports to China could have a big impact on Washington state. Tariffs went into effect Monday on 128 American products, including fruit, pork and metal pipes, in retaliation for proposed U.S. tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum.
KUOW listener Adam Busbin heard the news and wondered what that would mean for his home region of Okanogan County, where he grew up commuting to school through cherry and apple orchards.
The short answer? Cherry growers are especially worried.
“Cherries are the ones that will likely be impacted the most if the United States and China don’t reach a solution before the season really ramps up in June for our growers,” said Kate Woods, vice president of the Northwest Horticultural Council, a group that group represents growers of apples, pears and cherries.
Washington is the second larger exporter of fresh fruit in the country, earning over $825 million in 2016. The tariffs for cherries, apples, wine and other fruit amount to 15 percent.
China is the largest market for Pacific Northwest cherries, according to Woods. Last year the region exported more than 58 million pounds of cherries to China.
The cherry trees are just starting to bloom, so it’s hard to know the full impact yet, Woods said.
“It’s really too early to tell because we don’t know what the size of the crop is going to be,” she said. Likely Chinese consumers will have to pay more or the growers’ bottom line will suffer.
Apples and wine are also a concern with the tariffs.
One concern is that tariffs will push up prices and Chinese consumers may buy less fruit, said Chelan Fresh sales manager Tim Evans. The group conducts business in China for growers across the state.
“With increased cost, you always run the risk of not moving the volume (of fruit) that you need to move,” Evans said. “So that’s probably our biggest concern at this point.”
Copyright 2018 KUOW
Related Stories:
Washington Apple Growers Fret Over Possible Chinese Tariffs
With China threatening to slap the United States with $3 billion in retaliatory tariffs, one group that is worried is Washington apple farmers. Continue Reading Washington Apple Growers Fret Over Possible Chinese Tariffs Read More » Anna King March 26, 2018
Canadian Oil Going By Rail Through Washington To Portland Before Shipping To Asia
Canadian oil has found a new route to Asia: It’s moving by rail through Washington to a shipping terminal in Portland. In the long run, Canada wants to expand its Trans Mountain pipeline to move oil from the Alberta tar sands west to British Columbia — and from there onto ships that would travel through the Salish Sea and then to Asia. Continue Reading Canadian Oil Going By Rail Through Washington To Portland Before Shipping To Asia Read More » Tony Schick March 19, 2018
Northwest Farmers Hope Tender Fruit Buds Can Withstand Cold Snap
The recent bite of arctic air is causing real worry for Northwest fruit farmers. They’re fretting over their trees’ tender buds. And it all might get worse as things warm up. Continue Reading Northwest Farmers Hope Tender Fruit Buds Can Withstand Cold Snap Read More » Anna King February 23, 2018