Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to protect Georgia pecan growers from the Trump Administration’s tariff policies.
Sen. Ossoff, along with a bipartisan group including Representatives Buddy Carter (GA-01) and Austin Scott (GA-08), urged the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to prioritize American pecan producers in ongoing trade negotiations with India and to extend the deadline for trade talks with India.
The group also pushed for USTR to prioritize finalizing access for in-shell pecans and working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expedite the Pest Risk Analysis process required to obtain a Phytosanitary Certificate.
According to a report by the USDA, in 2022, the United States exported more than $1.3 million of pecans to India, with the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service projecting that pecan exports to India could reach up to $5 million annually in the coming years.
“We urge you and the Trump Administration to make the pecan industry a central part of the ongoing U.S.-India trade discussions,” Sen. Ossoff and the group wrote. “Our pecan growers are already navigating drought, labor shortages, and high input costs. The threat of further retaliatory tariffs would be devastating.”
Sen. Ossoff continues working to support Georgia’s pecan growers.
In June, Sen. Ossoff successfully pressed USDA to announce a $24 million dollar investment to support pecan growers and shellers in Georgia.
Last July, Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock pressed the USDA to provide adequate promotional resources for marketing Georgia pecans to the global market.
In 2023, following Sen. Ossoff’s push, the Republic of India announced a major 70% cut to tariffs on U.S. pecan exports — helping growers sell more products.
Click here to read the group’s full inquiry.
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