The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today the appointments to the newly established Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee. This committee aims to provide advice and recommendations on measures to enhance the competitiveness of producers of seasonal and perishable produce in the Southeastern United States.
The committee members will bring expertise in areas such as growing and selling seasonal and perishable agricultural products, as well as understanding the needs and market dynamics affecting these producers in the Southeastern region.
This initiative follows a request from Members of Congress for an examination of related issues, outlined in a September 8, 2022, Section 301 petition. Subsequently, on October 23, 2022, USTR announced its coordination with USDA to explore ways to support Southeastern producers.
"The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting specialty crop growers through this committee," said a spokesperson. Efforts include USDA’s Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative, which provides tools and resources to increase U.S. specialty crops' competitiveness in foreign markets, enhance domestic marketing, and improve production and processing practices.
USTR and USDA will collaborate with the Committee and Members of Congress to develop potential administrative actions and legislation aimed at benefiting Southeastern seasonal and perishable agricultural producers.
A complete roster of the committee members can be found here: Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee | United States Trade Representative (ustr.gov).
