The U.S. Apple Association has expressed its frustration at China's proposal to impose reciprocal tariffs on imports of U.S. products, including a 15% duty on fruit imports. 

The Chinese Government announced the draft measures last week after U.S. President Donald Trump instructed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to impose tariffs on at least US$50 billion in Chinese imports.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said the 15% tariff would be applied to a range of U.S. products including fresh and dried fruit, nuts and wine.

“The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is extremely disappointed that apple growers have been caught in what seems will be a trade war between the White House and the Chinese government," the group said.

"With apples being included on China’s list of retaliatory tariffs, U.S. growers face losing an important and expanding export market, to which access was a hard-fought battle."

It said the U.S. apple industry had worked very hard over the years and in 2015 finally achieved full access to the Chinese market, just as China has access to the U.S. market.

"We are competing, and winning, with our exports to China growing nicely from zero to about 2.5 million boxes per year. China’s retaliatory response to U.S. tariffs are just the latest chapter in a long and sad story where U.S. apple growers get hurt in a fight we didn’t start and in which we have no interest," it said.

“Within three years, China has become our tenth largest market and has tremendous promise for continued growth. Even the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office lists U.S. apple exports to China as one of the country’s top export success stories. Because China doesn’t grow a diverse variety of apples, there is a high demand by its consumers for the many unique varieties offered by the U.S.

“Trade is extremely important to the U.S. apple industry. We urge the administration and China to quickly resolve the trade dispute so that our apple exports won’t be disrupted.”

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