David Shapley
The threat of European action to impose high duties on apples from the US is receding, according to importers.
Their raised hopes come after concessions by the US government over steel tariffs, reducing the threat of EU retaliation which the Commission is due to debate on September 30.
Douglas Henderson, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, said the commission's threatened 100% duty on US apples could be reduced to about 15%, and even that would not be immediately applicable.
US apples are valued at more than £15m in the UK but, unlike citrus fruit, were not guaranteed exemption from any retaliatory tariff the EU decided to impose as the US protected its own steel producers by manipulating duties.
First estimates of the total US crop point to it being between 4%-7% lighter than last year, between 219 million and 213 million bushels.
The difference in the figures is the result of "on the tree" estimates coming from both the USDA and the industry.
In addition, there is considerable variation in crop levels between states.
While Washington, the major supplier to the UK of Red Delicious, should be up by around 7% to 130 million cartons, while the north-east coastal states separately linked through the US Apple Export Council show severe reductions ranging from 20% to 50%. These states are the main sources for the UK's supply of varieties such as Empire and MacIntosh Red.
Neil Gordon, UK director of the USAEC, has assured buyers of sufficient fruit for full export programmes if duties were eased.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
The threat of European action to impose high duties on apples from the US is receding, according to importers.
Their raised hopes come after concessions by the US government over steel tariffs, reducing the threat of EU retaliation which the Commission is due to debate on September 30.
Douglas Henderson, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, said the commission's threatened 100% duty on US apples could be reduced to about 15%, and even that would not be immediately applicable.
US apples are valued at more than £15m in the UK but, unlike citrus fruit, were not guaranteed exemption from any retaliatory tariff the EU decided to impose as the US protected its own steel producers by manipulating duties.
First estimates of the total US crop point to it being between 4%-7% lighter than last year, between 219 million and 213 million bushels.
The difference in the figures is the result of "on the tree" estimates coming from both the USDA and the industry.
In addition, there is considerable variation in crop levels between states.
While Washington, the major supplier to the UK of Red Delicious, should be up by around 7% to 130 million cartons, while the north-east coastal states separately linked through the US Apple Export Council show severe reductions ranging from 20% to 50%. These states are the main sources for the UK's supply of varieties such as Empire and MacIntosh Red.
Neil Gordon, UK director of the USAEC, has assured buyers of sufficient fruit for full export programmes if duties were eased.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
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