WASHINGTON, DC – On April 9, 2020 at 9:00 am, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Robert Lighthizer, will host a field hearing in Valdosta to discuss foreign trade policies that may be harming American growers of seasonal and perishable produce and to hear from interested persons on how the Trump Administration can support these producers and redress any unfair harm.

Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) and officials from the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture will also be participating in the field hearing.

The deadline for farmers and other interested members of the public to submit a request to appear at the field hearing is March 19, 2020 at 11:59 pm. The deadline to submit hearing statements and written comments is March 26, 2020 at 11:59 pm. The Federal Register notice with instructions on how to participate in the hearings and submit written materials can be viewed here.

Media and attendees should note that the hearing is on-the-record but no external cameras or video recording will be allowed in the hearing room. Full transcripts of the hearings will be posted on ustr.gov after the hearings. Please contact media@ustr.eop.gov, press@usda.gov, or publicaffairs@doc.gov with questions or for more information on media arrangements.

What:

Field hearing on Georgia’s Seasonal and Perishable Produce Industry

Who:

Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, the United States Trade Representative

Where:

Rainwater Conference Center

1 Meeting Place

Valdosta, Georgia

When:

April 9, 2020 at 9:00 am

Background:

In recent years, the growth of Mexico’s fruit and vegetable sector has led to an excessive amount of dumping of fruits and vegetables into the United States below the cost of production. Mexico continues to unfairly subsidize its growers making it very difficult for many specialty crop producers to remain competitive. For years, Rep. Austin Scott has pressed the Administration to address these unfair trading practices, leading letters from the Georgia Congressional Delegation to Ambassador Lighthizer in 2018 and 2017. Click here to read more.

As President Donald Trump’s chief trade negotiator, Ambassador Lighthizer has committed to addressing these unfair trade practices through a four-pronged approached, including conducting field hearings in Georgia and Florida within 90 days of Congress passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). You can read more on Ambassador Lighthizer’s commitment to addressing these concerns by clicking here.

-30-