March 23, 2018 – -On March 23, 2018, the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced a proposal to levy retaliatory tariffs impacting approximately $2.0 billion in U.S. food and agricultural exports to China in response to the recent U.S. 232 Trade Action on steel and aluminum. Almonds and other crops would be subject to a 15% tariff increase. The Almond Alliance will be working with stakeholders to submit comments or additional information by March 31, 2018 to MOFCOM’s Trade Relief and Investigation Bureau regarding these countermeasures.