Press Releases
WASHINGTON, DC – On August 20, 2020 at 9:00AM, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Robert Lighthizer, will host a virtual field hearing to discuss foreign trade policies that may be harming American growers of seasonal and perishable produce – like the dumping of foreign-subsidized produce into U.S. markets – and to hear from interested persons on how the Trump Administration can support these producers and redress any unfair harm. This hearing was originally scheduled for April 11, 2020 in Valdosta, Georgia, but was rescheduled due to COVID-19.
Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08), other federal officials, and local producers will also be participating in the virtual hearing. A livestream will be available on USTR’s website the day of the hearing.
Full transcripts of the hearing will be posted on ustr.gov after the hearing. Please contact media@ustr.eop.gov, press@usda.gov, or publicaffairs@doc.gov with questions or for more information.
What:
Virtual field hearing on Georgia’s Seasonal and Perishable Produce Industry
Who:
Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, the United States Trade Representative
Where:
When:
August 20, 2020 at 9:00AM
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. 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 approach, including conducting field hearings in Georgia and Florida within 90 days of Congress approving the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). You can read more on Ambassador Lighthizer’s commitment to address the dumping of fruits and vegetables into U.S. markets by clicking here.
Next week’s field hearing is one of two virtual hearings USTR is conducting on unfair trading practices. The first was held today, August 13, for producers in Florida. Today’s hearing with Florida producers was originally scheduled for April 7, 2020, in Plant City, Florida, but was also rescheduled due to COVID-19.
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