WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to reintroduce the Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act (Specialty CROP Act). This bipartisan, bicameral bill makes key improvements to the annual U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report to identify major trade barriers so specialty crop growers can boost sales in foreign markets. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate.

“Specialty crops are a cornerstone of California agriculture—especially in the Central Valley—but while our state is a top exporter, our growers have unfortunately faced many challenges over the last few years,” said Congressman Valadao. “Many of our California-grown specialty crops rely on customers overseas, but due to unfair trade practices, burdensome labeling standards, and blockades in foreign markets, it makes it difficult to stay competitive. Our specialty crop producers deserve to compete on a level playing field in the global marketplace, and this bipartisan bill would take necessary steps to identify and combat unreasonable trade barriers more effectively.”

“The specialty crops are a vital part of Oregon’s economy,” said Congresswoman Bonamici.  “Unfortunately tariffs, market uncertainty, and other global factors have hit specialty crop growers hard.  I’m pleased to introduce the Specialty CROP Act to improve the USDA’s existing specialty crops trade report to better improve the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops exports.”

“Specialty crop production is central to Idaho’s economy and our identity as a state,” said Senator Crapo. “Idaho farmers can outgrow the world, but high tariffs and burdensome labeling requirements imposed by foreign nations threaten our rural communities and keep agricultural producers from accessing global markets. Detailed and up-to-date information from USDA and USTR will help specialty crop growers navigate foreign markets and inform congressional and presidential efforts to address trade barriers and expand export opportunities.”

“The world is hungry for grown-in-the-U.S. blueberries, potatoes, wine and other produce. But all too often our farmers and producers are stymied by unreasonable blockades in foreign markets,” said Senator Wyden. “Our bipartisan bill will help rural Americans by identifying unfair foreign trade barriers and creating specific plans to cut through that red tape.”  

The Specialty CROP Act would:

• Improve the annual U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report to:
• Explicitly require participation and engagement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
• Highlight specific trade barriers that limit the export competitiveness of specialty crops in specific markets, including tariff and non-tariff barriers.
• Include an assessment of whether each trade barrier is subject to a U.S. FTA or international agreement.
• Include specific information with respect to actions taken, or expected to be taken, by the U.S. government to address or resolve each trade barrier.
• Require a request for comment from both the public and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.
• Require the report be made public, while allowing for a classified annex to protect U.S. national security and economic strategy.
• Continue to define “specialty crop” as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”

Read the bill here.

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