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Tariffs from India take big bite out of Washington apple profits

The apple industry in Washington state expects exports to India to slow down even more after the country tacked on more tariffs.
Credit: E. Beers
The “Cosmic Crisp” apple is slated for a 2019 retail debut. (Washington State University Photo)

The apple industry in Washington state expects exports to India to slow down even more after the country tacked on a 20% retaliatory tariff, bringing the total duty to 70%.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports India added the tariff to apples and 27 other American products Sunday after the U.S. ended a preferential trade program with the country earlier this year.

India had imported 7.8 million 40-pound (18-kilogram) boxes of the state's 2017 apple crop by June 2018. It imported a record 8 million boxes by the end of season.

It has imported 2.6 million boxes of the 2018 crop since last week.

Northwest Horticultural Council President Mark Powers says the apples could depress prices for all growers if the industry cannot find alternative export markets.

Editor's note: Video features an apple farm in Lynden, Washington

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