The U.S. Senate on May 23 passed a bipartisan, bicameral provision offered by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) to support United States cherry growers struggling under China’s increased trade tariffs.
“This fix is essential to ensure growers can continue to operate in this upcoming growing season while the administration continues their work to level the playing field with China,” Rep. Newhouse said.
The provision received approval as part of the bipartisan Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019, H.R. 2157, which received Senate approved, 85-8. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a previous version of the bill on May 10, 257 – 150.
“I appreciate the administration’s support and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the executive branch to ensure open markets and access for central Washington farmers,” said Rep. Newhouse.
The provision would provide more cherry growers access to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market Facilitation Program, which provides financial aid to growers impacted by China’s tariffs, according to Rep. Newhouse’s office.
“Getting this aid is critical to supporting the more than 2,500 cherry growers in the Pacific Northwest and the thousands of jobs they support,” the congressman said last week. “While the priority for our growers remains an end to the trade disputes, all cherry growers must have access to this assistance.”
The Trump administration in August 2018 announced a $12 billion Trade Aid Package but did not include sweet cherries in the package.
“Cherry growers deserve the same aid available to other producers,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Central Washington producers want to grow and sell their high-quality cherries in strong domestic and international markets.”
Following efforts by Rep. Newhouse, the U.S. Department of Agriculture officially added sweet cherries to the program in September 2018, however, many still did not qualify for aid.
The provision, coauthored by Rep. Newhouse and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), would provide a one-time eligibility expansion of the Market Facilitation Program guidelines to let cherry growers receive financial aid if 75 percent of the business or individual grower’s income comes from farming, ranching or forestry related activities. The one-time payments would come from the Trade Aid Package.
H.R. 2157 now returns to the House for passage and then to the president’s desk to be signed into law.