May 15, 2020
News Release 20-045
Inv. No(s). 332-577
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC to Investigate Raspberries Meant for Processing, with a Focus on Washington State

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for a new general factfinding investigation on the U.S. raspberry industry in Washington state and the conditions of competition between U.S. and foreign suppliers of raspberries meant for processing.

The investigation, Raspberries for Processing: Conditions of Competition between U.S. and Foreign Suppliers, with a Focus on Washington State, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on April 9, 2020.

As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide, to the extent practical:

  • an overview of the U.S. raspberry industry in Washington State, including fresh raspberries for processing, frozen raspberries, and raspberry juice, as well as an overview of the industries producing fresh and processed raspberries in major producing and exporting countries;

  • production, pricing, and consumption trends for fresh and processed raspberries in the United States and other major producing and exporting countries over the last five years, including the relationship between prices of domestic products and imports of fresh and processed raspberries in the U.S. market to the extent such data is available;

  • an overview of U.S. imports of fresh and processed raspberries, including information on the main country sources of supply, trade patterns, and supply chains of major suppliers to the United States;

  • a description of foreign government policies, financial aid, and programs that directly or indirectly affect production, infrastructure, exports, and imports of fresh and processed raspberries, including product country of origin labeling, food safety regulations, producer support, and tariff and nontariff measures;

  • a comparison of the competitive strengths and weaknesses of production and exports of fresh and processed raspberries in the United States and other major producing and exporting countries in line with the Commission’s competitiveness framework; and

  • a qualitative and, to the extent possible, quantitative assessment of the economic impact of imports from major producing and exporting countries on production and prices of U.S. fresh and processed raspberries.

The USITC expects to transmit its report to the USTR no later than June 9, 2021.

The USITC is seeking input for the investigation from all interested parties. The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation at 9:30 a.m. on September 17, 2020. Requests to appear at the public hearing in connection with the investigation should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on August 27, 2020 with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington D.C. 20436.

The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary to the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but not later than 5:15 p.m. on December 6, 2020. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

Further information on the scope of this investigation and appropriate submissions appears in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated May 15, 2020.  The notice can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-2000.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting report conveys the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.

# # #