Nov 22, 2019

Michigan congressman backs Defending Domestic Produce Production Act

On Nov. 21, Congressman Bill Huizenga, R-Michigan, announced he is cosponsoring the Defending Domestic Produce Production Act, bipartisan legislation designed to defend family farms from illegal trade practices used by foreign nations to undercut American farmers and growers. Currently, laws addressing anti-dumping and countervailing duties measure injury based on national, year-round totals. This full-year orientation denies U.S. seasonal and perishable agricultural producers fair and effective access to import relief remedies.

“When Michigan farmers have a level playing field, they can compete with anyone in the world,” Huizenga said in a news release. “Current federal law fails to provide seasonal, perishable, and specialty crop growers with adequate means to bring forward claims against illegal trade practices being used by other nations. The Defending Domestic Produce Production Act will increase the ability of Michigan farmers, especially asparagus, blueberry and cherry growers, to petition the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate illegal subsidies and dumping of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. market.”

The Defending Domestic Produce Production Act would recognize the unique circumstances of seasonal fruit and vegetable producers who are directly harmed by the practices and subsidies utilized by Mexico, Central American and South American nations.

Huizenga is the first member of the Michigan delegation to sign on to the Defending Domestic Produce Production Act introduced by Senator Marco Rubio, R-Florida, in the u.S. Senate and Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, in the House. The bill currently has 32 cosponsors.