U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday aimed at protecting American specialty crop farmers from unfair foreign trade practices.
The bill, called the Fairness for Fruits and Vegetables Act, would create new mechanisms to monitor trade data and address market conditions that lawmakers say disadvantage U.S. producers. The measure is focused on specialty crops such as blueberries, potatoes, apples, cherries, asparagus and maple products.
Sen. Collins said farmers who grow these crops play a significant role in state and regional economies and are at risk of being undercut by unfair market disruptions. Sen. Slotkin added that producers of specialty crops face distinct challenges and need policies that reflect those circumstances.
Their proposed legislation would establish an interagency working group made up of officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies. The group would be responsible for monitoring trade conditions for seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.
It would also create a formal channel for producers and trade associations to provide input on unfair trade practices.
