Republican Lawmaker Asks USTR to Get Retaliatory Tariffs Off Apples in India

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer asking him to prioritize the removal of Section 232 retaliatory tariffs from India, which have resulted in a 70 percent tariff on U.S. apples in that country. Before the U.S. hit Indian steel with 25 percent tariffs, U.S. apples were taxed at 50 percent in India. India held off on retaliation for more than a year, but when the U.S. announced it would terminate India's eligibility for the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program, it responded in kind (see 1906170053).

Newhouse asked USTR to also convince India to lower its worldwide apple tariff rate. "This sharp increase is truly damaging to the U.S. and Washington state apple markets by virtually locking out U.S. growers," Newhouse wrote. Before the retaliatory tariffs in June, India was Washington state's second-largest export market, with about $148 million in sales. Apples are under discussion, according to trade lawyers who follow India-U.S. relations (see 1909060029).