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August 24, 2006
 

Abercrombie "Brings Together" Hawaii fruit growers, Federal regulators to discuss new import rule
 
Washington, DC -- U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is hosting a “face-to-face” meeting this morning (Thursday, August 24th) between Hawaii specialty tropical fruit growers and officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who are considering proposed changes in federal regulations that would open the door to U.S. importation of pineapples, litchis, longans, mangos, mangosteens and rambutans from Thailand.  However, the meeting participants will be several thousand miles apart.   

 

“The specialty fruit industry is one of Hawaii’s real success stories, exhibiting dramatic growth and amazing promise in just a few short years,” said Abercrombie. “I’m going to do everything I can to protect it from any threat of unfair competition.”

 

The “meeting” will actually be a videoconference, with participants in three locations: representatives of the growers in Hilo, Rep. Abercrombie and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) leaders in Honolulu and officials of the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in Washington, DC.  APHIS is responsible for protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health.

  

 USDA is considering a change in import regulations that would allow Thailand to ship certain kinds of fruit to the U.S. for the first time.  Hawaii is the only state that grows some of these specialty tropical fruits, and local growers are concerned that they will be at a competitive disadvantage with Thai products, which are indirectly subsidized by the Thai government.  There are also fears that protections against plant pests and diseases in Thailand will not be monitored by USDA and could prove insufficient to prevent the spread of pests and diseases into the United States.

 

 “I’m pleased to be able to help our specialty fruit growers communicate directly with federal regulators about this proposed rule change,” Abercrombie said.  “I want to be sure that the USDA carefully considers the impact of any new trade regulations on these homegrown American businesses.”

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