Washington, DC – Thomas Dille, Vice Chairman of American Pistachio Growers (APG), recently appeared before the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office Trade Policy Staff Committee to provide testimony on the priorities of the U.S. pistachio industry. The hearing begins the work of USTR to set goals and benchmarks for the Agreement as well as hear the concerns and objectives of U.S. businesses within the confines of the Agreement.
In his comments, Mr. Dille set three priorities for U.S pistachios under a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement: (1) the immediate elimination of pistachio tariffs; (2) the harmonizing of sanitary and phytosanitary standards; and (3) the establishment of a precertification aflatoxin export inspection program for product destined for Europe. Achieving these goals under the Agreement would save “millions of dollars for the industry.” Mr. Dille also mentioned the importance of the Agreement in terms of Iran and how despite U.S. and other national sanctions, Iran is a beneficiary of Europe’s Generalized Systems of Preference program under which it pays no duty when exporting to Europe.
APG was among a representative group of fruit, vegetable and tree nut organizations who came to Washington, DC to provide testimony.
For a copy of the testimony in full, please contact the APG office.
American Pistachio Growers is a voluntary trade association representing members who are pistachio growers, processors and industry partners in California, Arizona and New Mexico. These states represent 100% of the domestic commercial pistachio production. APG pistachios are the “Official Snack” of USA Water Polo, Miss California and adventurer Jeremy Jones. For more information, visit http://www.AmericanPistachios.org.
Source: American Pistachio Growers
