USTR Follows Through With Blueberry Investigation Request

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has asked the International Trade Commission to initiate a global safeguard investigation into imported blueberries, and whether those imports are causing serious injury to domestic blueberry growers. The agency said it would make this request nearly a month ago, but only just recently put the request in, on Sept. 29.

The request covers all fresh and frozen blueberries, covered by six tariff numbers:

• 0810400029
• 0810400026
• 0810400024
• 0811902024
• 0811902030
• 0811902040.

The USTR said earlier that the ITC would complete the investigation by Dec. 30 (see 2009020016). Canada said that according to USMCA rules, Canadian blueberries would be exempt from a global safeguard if they're not contributing to the harm (see 2009030043), and Canadian officials say they are sure the ITC will find that Canadian blueberries are not threatening U.S. farmers' viability.