Bipartisan Lawmakers Call on Administration to Eliminate Trade Barriers for U.S. Blueberries
Folsom, Calif., Sept. 25, 2025 – A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Reps. Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04) is urging the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to prioritize the U.S. blueberry industry as part of the administration’s broader efforts to eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers, and reduce the national trade deficit.
In a letter to USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, 25 members of Congress representing blueberry producers nationwide pointed to trade barriers in Japan, Korea and Vietnam that have limited market growth and made it more difficult for U.S. blueberries to compete.
Japan currently imposes a 9.6% tariff on frozen U.S. blueberries. Lawmakers noted that this has caused American exports to decline, while global competitors, including Canada and the European Union, have gained market share.
In Vietnam, U.S. blueberries face steep tariffs that lawmakers said must be reduced or eliminated in order for the industry to realize the “significant room for growth in this market.”
In Korea, a longstanding market access request for fresh blueberries from California and Washington remains outstanding. The letter urges the administration to “communicate to Korea’s trade negotiators the importance of rapidly reviewing and approving market access requests.”
The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) applauded the letter and bipartisan call for action.
“We strongly support the bipartisan congressional letter urging the administration to address longstanding trade barriers in key markets like Japan, Korea and Vietnam,” said Kasey Cronquist, president of NABC. “Eliminating these barriers will expand opportunities for family farmers, strengthen the agricultural economy and ensure the U.S. blueberry industry can thrive globally. We thank Reps. Larsen and Newhouse for championing fair access to export markets on behalf of blueberry growers nationwide.”
Chad Don of Oasis Farms in Prosser, Washington, and an NABC board member, added, “As a Washington blueberry grower, I strongly support the administration’s engagement on export priorities for our industry. Our state is one of the nation’s leading blueberry producers, and access to strong export markets is critical to maintaining healthy prices and sustaining family farms. Addressing Japan’s tariff on frozen blueberries, securing access for fresh blueberries into Korea and lowering Vietnam’s high tariff rates are all essential steps to ensure Washington fruit remains competitive against global suppliers. These actions will not only strengthen farmgate returns for growers but also support rural jobs and highlight the premium quality and reliability of Washington blueberries to consumers around the world.”
Bryan Sakuma of Sakuma Brothers Farms and Processors shared his support of the letter as well. “As a third-generation Washington farmer, I’m proud to continue my family’s legacy of supplying high-quality blueberries to consumers worldwide, including Japan, where my family heritage lies. U.S. blueberries are among the best in the world, and I am optimistic that longstanding barriers in markets like Japan, Korea and Vietnam can finally be addressed. Doing so will open new opportunities for growers, strengthen the farm economy and help reduce our agricultural trade deficit. I thank Rep. Larsen for his steadfast support of Washington blueberries and farm families like mine.”
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About the North American Blueberry Council
Since 1965, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) has been the voice of the blueberry industry in the U.S. and Canada. NABC was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC), a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Learn more at nabcblues.org.