The latest US export statistics for apples confirm that exporters face difficult situations in global markets.

Trade data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) show that the US exported a total of 55,672 metric tons of fresh apples to all global markets in October, i.e. 19% less than the 68,666 metric tons it shipped in the same month of the previous year.

The retaliatory tariffs established by Mexico and China, and a tariff that India threatened to impose, have contributed to slow exports, said Mark Powers, the president of the Northwest Horticultural Council in Yakima, Washington.

"The apple industry is very vigilant," Powers said, noting that India is expected to apply its retaliation rate on US apples on December 17. The tariff would be a response to the tariffs the US imposed on steel and aluminum from India. India has delayed the application of the 25% tariff on US apples several times since August.

"The two countries have been having ongoing discussions to find a solution, but they haven't achieved it," Powers said. In fact, it looks like India will join other countries to file a World Trade Organization complaint against the United States, he added. The USDA reported that US apple sales to Mexico in October totaled 13,999 metric tons, 18% less than the 17,056 metric tons in the same period last year.

Mexico imposed a retaliatory 20% tariff on US apples, and China a 40% retaliatory tariff.

"We find it very worrying that we haven't seen any relief from Mexico's tariff yet," Powers said. An improvement in the commercial terms with China may even take longer to arrive, after the situation experienced by the Huawei executive. "The longer it lasts, the worse it gets", he said.

Source: SimFRUIT