The loudest voices in US-China trade talks? Christmas tree growers
US growers urge officials to keep tariffs on Chinese-made artificial trees, saying lower duties threaten family farms and livelihoods
It’s not yet the winter holiday season, but Christmas trees are back in the spotlight, caught in the geopolitical tug of war between Washington and Beijing.
As the United States and China work to stabilise ties through a newly proposed bilateral trade mechanism, one of the most vocal groups weighing in is not the technology industry or manufacturers, but American Christmas tree growers determined to keep tariffs on Chinese-made artificial trees.
Dozens of growers from across the country flooded the Office of the US Trade Representative’s public comment portal, urging officials not to classify artificial Christmas trees as “non-sensitive” products eligible for lower tariffs.
“Lowering the additional tariffs that currently apply to Chinese artificial trees would re-expose tens of thousands of family farms to the below-cost import pricing that has eroded their market for two decades,” said Scott Powell, president of the National Christmas Tree Association and a second-generation farmer in Michigan.
Under the proposal, the two countries would establish a joint mechanism to oversee bilateral trade with US$30 billion worth of “non-sensitive” goods that could receive reduced or even zero tariffs.