Washington, D.C. - The International Trade Commission (ITC) voted 4-1 today that the domestic individually quick frozen red raspberry market has been "materially injured" by dumping of Chilean imports. U.S. Reps. Brian Baird (WA-03) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) are pleased that the ITC recognizes that red raspberry farmers have been unjustly harmed by these imports.

"This is a great step forward toward ensuring a fair market for our red raspberries, and protecting our family farmers in Washington state," said Rep. Rick Larsen.

"Today's decision has been in the works for a long time, and it is gratifying to see that the right steps are being taken to protect our local growers from unfair and illegal trade practices. Many of our farmers have been growing raspberries for generations and the presence of this community provides an enormous benefit to our region. The decision will ultimately mean raspberry growers throughout the northwest will get a fair shake in the market place and consumers will have the very best local produce available to them," said Rep. Brian Baird.

Larsen added, “I want to thank all of the red raspberry growers and processors who are involved.  Their contributions have been invaluable through this long and difficult process."

Today's vote clears the way for the Department of Commerce to levy anti-dumping tariffs on Chilean imports. These are expected to be ordered in early July. Commerce has already found there was a dumping margin of 6.33 percent. 

Larsen and Baird testified before the ITC in support of local growers on 23 May 2002. The anti-dumping investigation was originally initiated May 31, 2001 by a petition filed by the IQF Red Raspberries Fair Trade Committee, an ad hoc association of U.S. growers and processors of IQF raspberries located in Washington and Oregon, and the IQF Committee of the Washington Red Raspberry Commission.

Last year Baird and Larsen worked to ensure that an emergency federal grant was made to the Washington State Department of Agriculture for distribution to raspberry growers. The purpose of this assistance was to offset some of the losses the raspberry growers endured because of dumped imports from Chile. These payments were made during the fall of 2001.