Press Releases

Today, Rep. Jack Bergman led a bipartisan letter with Members of the Michigan Congressional delegation to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in support of the tart cherry industry’s allegation against improper Turkish trade practices. This letter furthers his effort to level the playing field for local tart cherry growers. Since taking office, Rep. Bergman has advocated for Michigan's cherry industry in the face of trade challenges, such as Turkey’s dumping of cheap government-subsidized products into the U.S. market.

In September of 2018, Rep. Bergman requested that President Trump end Turkey’s duty-free benefit into the U.S. market under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for tart cherry juice.  As a result, President Trump successfully withdrew Turkey’s duty-free status, which resulted in a small duty on Turkish cherry juice entering the United States.

The Cherry Marketing Institute recently submitted an allegation to CBP showing strong evidence Turkey is evading this new duty by moving its tart cherry juice through Brazil to U.S. markets.

Rep. Bergman’s letter to CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan supports the Cherry Marketing Institute’s customs allegation. The letter was signed by Michigan Reps. Upton, Huizenga, Moolenaar, Mitchell, Kildee, and Walberg.

The Members of Congress wrote, "Starting in November 2018 when Turkey lost its GSP status, U.S. imports of TCJC from Brazil abruptly increased despite both the country’s apparent lack of a tart cherry industry and no record of TCJC imports from Brazil in the previous two years.  Furthermore, from November 2018 to November 2019, U.S. TCJC imports from Brazil nearly doubled those of Turkey. Brazil suddenly accounted for more U.S. TCJC imports than any other country in 2019."

You can read the full letter HERE.

Background:

In September of 2018, Rep. Bergman requested that President Trump end Turkey’s duty-free benefit into the U.S. market under Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for tart cherry juice.

In March of 2019, Rep. Bergman announced to cherry growers USDA approved a $15 million surplus purchase request to promote domestic consumption. 

In June of 2019, Rep. Bergman announced that the USDA would buy an additional $15 million of U.S. tart cherries.

In September 2019, Reps. Bergman and Moolenaar sent a letter to Secretary Perdue urging tart and processed sweet cherries to be included in the president’s trade aid package.

In December of 2019, Rep. Bergman wrote testimony to the International Trade Commission supporting the Dried Tart Cherry Trade Committee’s case against Turkey dumping.

In January of 2020, Rep. Bergman led a phone call with USTR Ambassador Gregg Doud regarding Michigan cherries in the China Phase One trade deal.

In January of 2020, Rep. Bergman led a phone call with USDA Under Secreatary McKinney regarding efforts to increase promotion of U.S. tart cherries overseas.

In February 2020, Reps. Bergman, Moolenaar, and Huizenga wrote a letter to USTR requesting a field hearing in Michigan regarding the state of tart cherries and other specialty crops.