FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2023
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[TURLOCK, CALIFORNIA], Today, a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives led by Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) and Congressman John Duarte (CA-13) sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai, calling for immediate action against Turkey’s recent decision to increase tariffs on American-grown almonds. The move is a significant setback for American farmers, workers, and the domestic almond industry. We urge the White House and Congressional leadership to prioritize this issue in ongoing trade discussions with Turkey.
“This tariff hike is not just a number; it’s a direct hit to the livelihoods of thousands of American families,” Aubrey Bettencourt, CEO and President of the Almond Alliance. “We’ve worked hard to build a sustainable and competitive industry. It’s disheartening to see our efforts undermined by unjust tariffs. We call upon our leaders to act swiftly and decisively.”
According to recent reports, Turkey plans to raise the most-favored-nation (MFN) duty on U.S. inshell and shelled almonds by 15 percent. This, coupled with Turkey’s existing 10 percent retaliatory tariff, will result in a staggering 25 percent tariff on U.S. almonds. Such an increase unfairly benefits other almond-producing countries like Australia, Spain, Uzbekistan, and Iran, giving them an unjustified competitive edge in the Turkish market.
The United States and, especially, California, which is the epicenter of global almond production, will be disproportionately affected by this tariff hike. The state accounts for nearly 80 percent of the world’s almond supply, with 91 percent of almond farms being family-operated. The almond industry is a significant job creator, especially in California’s economically challenged Central Valley, contributing billions to the U.S. economy.
The letter led by Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) and Congressman John Duarte (CA-13) included Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA-20), Congressman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04), Congressman Josh Harder (CA-09), Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40), Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41), and Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-47), urges the U.S. government to engage with Turkey to remove these burdensome tariffs and ensure a level playing field for American almond producers.
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About the Almond Alliance
Almond Alliance is the leading authority in state and national policy, championing American almond farmers, industry, and community for the continued global growth, innovation, and success of American almonds and agriculture.
Established in 1980, the Almond Alliance is a non-profit trade association with a local and international network of almond processors, hullers/shellers, growers, and allied businesses. The Alliance is dedicated to providing resources and solutions for our members, ensuring industry success and growth opportunities. Learn more at almondalliance.org
