President Biden has announced new tariffs on a range of Chinese goods, including steel, aluminum, medical, and energy-related equipment. Within these tariffs, there is a specific inclusion of a 25% tariff on eight varieties of Chinese canned vegetables, as highlighted by Jason Culotta from the Midwest Food Products Association. These vegetables include canned potatoes, peas, beans-shelled, green and wax beans, sweet corn, carrots, sauerkraut, and mixed vegetables.
According to Culotta, the imposition of these tariffs follows efforts by a group of food processors who lobbied in Washington D.C. for fair trade practices. The U.S. Trade Representative has completed a four-year review of the Section 301 tariffs, deciding to maintain all current tariffs except for 14 non-agriculture categories. This decision has been described as a partial victory for U.S. food processors, addressing concerns over unfair competition from Chinese imports not subject to similar tariffs, particularly in relation to the steel cans used for packaging. The food industry is still advocating for relief from the tariffs on tin-plate steel, which significantly impact the cost of food cans, affecting both processors and consumers.
Source: brownfieldagnews.com