The California Cut Flower Commission ( CCFC ) and license American Grown ( CAG ) , representing the American fresh cut blossom industry and hundreds of workers , and farmers , expressed dashing hopes and concern at the Trump Administration ’s decision to take out long - standing duties on importation of track roses from Ecuador . As a result of the determination , a 6.8 % duty that has helped protect the U.S. industry from big volumes of low - priced imports of Ecuadorian unused cold shoulder rose wine has been rid of .
“ The U.S. industry lose score of growers over the preceding 30 twelvemonth due to trade policy that encouraged imports of low - priced roses from Colombia and then Ecuador , with our industry going from over a hundred to less than 20 large - scale rose producers in the U.S. today , ” say Dave Pruitt , CCFC ’s Chief Executive Officer and CAG ’s Administrator . “ It ’s both surprising and disappointing that this Administration , which prides itself on protect American agriculture and proletarian , would opt to put our industry at further risk . This is peculiarly the case give the ruinous shock the on-going pandemic has had on American rose growers . ”
start in the 1990s , prescribed U.S. craft policy mean to support South America ’s economic growth excite the increment of a massive export - orient rose manufacture in Ecuador where none had existed . Ecuador has grow to become the second large source of cut blush wine in the United States , using low prices to push American cultivator out of the grocery store . The 6.8 % tariff was the last remaining impediment to additional import development .
“ Ecuador has been consistently increasing its roseate cargo to the United States , while domesticated cut rose grower struggle to contend against their low - priced imports , ” stated U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal ( CA-24 ) . “ The Administration ’s unfortunate conclusion to add together roses to the GSP is another devastating bump to our remaining domestic rose farmers , especially as the crime syndicate farm in my district attempt to recover from the disastrous loss they digest , and go on to endure , due to the unprecedented Covid-19 shutdowns this twelvemonth . Roses are America ’s interior flush , and this decision create it hard for American agriculturist to cultivate them on American soil . ”
In March 2020 , several importer and the Government of Ecuador petitioned the Administration to add reinvigorated cut roses to the Generalized System of Preferences , thus eliminating the stock 6.8 % duty embrace these meaning . CCFC and CAG opposed these request , mention the long - term harm of originate import from Ecuador , the already crushed implication prices , and the peril to the overall future of American growers that would result .
“ Our dedication to growing roses correctly here in America – the prescribed flower of our commonwealth – stay unwavering and unaltered , ” said Erik Van Wingerden , Chief Executive Officer of Myriad Flowers International . “ The decision to remove these tariff is a setback to our industry , but for the rice beer of our businesses , our workers , and our customers , we will continue to introduce and find ways to vie . ”
For more information : ccfc.orgamericangrownflowers.org
