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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) are among 12 Senators from pecan-producing states who are encouraging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to prioritize a reduction in pecan tariffs as the Trump administration continues trade negotiations with India.
The Senators have signed a letter to Lighthizer stressing the importance of removing existing barriers to the export of U.S. agricultural products, specifically pecans. India currently imposes a 36 percent tariff on U.S. pecan imports, as opposed to only 10 percent tariffs on other tree nuts like almonds and pistachios.
“The growing middle class in India has demonstrated its desire for consumer-oriented agricultural products, like tree nuts, and the Indian market represents one of the most dynamic and fastest growing in the world. Unfortunately, the current disparity in the tariffs India charges on different varieties of tree nuts has created an unlevel playing field for American producers,” the Senators wrote.
“Lowering the tariff on pecans would satisfy the demand of the Indian people for additional varieties of tree nuts without impacting India’s virtually nonexistent domestic pecan industry,” the letter said.
Reducing the tariff on pecans to the levels shared by similar tree nuts would result in increased Indian imports, greater revenues, and a better U.S.-India trade relationship. It is estimated that U.S. pecan exports to India would increase to $300 million within five years if the current 36 percent tariff was reduced to 10 percent or less.
U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.) authored the letter, which was also signed by Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).
Mississippi is among 15 states that make up the core of the U.S. pecan industry, which has experienced production and value hardships following Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and subsequent wet conditions in recent summer months.
A signed copy of the letter is available here.
