In a first, cucumbers and squash grab the spotlight

In an unlikely turn of events, cucumbers and squash are smack dab in the limelight.

The U.S. International Trade Commission, acting on a request by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, has initiated fact-finding investigations into the effects of imported cucumbers and squash on domestic growers.

Check out The Packer's coverage here.

From the story:

"The two investigations will focus on the effects of the imports on southeastern growers. Two virtual hearings conducted by the USTR, U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Agriculture last year primarily featured testimony about effects of imports on Florida and Georgia crops and their growers.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer requested the investigations in a Dec. 4 letter and the ITC announced it had initiated the fact-finding investigation on Jan. 8.

According to a news release from the ITC, the separate investigations into imported squash and cucumbers will feature:

Descriptions of the effects of imports on the domestic seasonal markets of the products in question, with a focus on the Southeast U.S.;
 

• Information on recent trends in trade with the two crops; and
   
• Monthly price trends for imported cucumbers and squash, including an analysis and price comparison of the prices of U.S-grown and imported products, with a focus on 2015-20.
   

The ITC will have a virtual public hearing on the investigations at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on April 8, according to a news release.
 

Information about how to participate in the hearing will be posted on the Commission’s website no later than March 11, 2021."

TK:   In a sneak peek at statistics that will be closely scrutinized check out recent import and price trends for both cucumbers and squash that I put together from USDA data. There is no question that the import shares of cucumbers and squash have been rising dramatically in the past 25 years.

Quote of the Day: 

“Don’t give us your doubts, gives us your certainties, for we have doubts enough of our own.”
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe