Product Overview
Increased trade in fresh fruits and vegetables provides
U.S. consumers with a variety of benefits including the
possibility of improved nutrition by making fresh fruits
and vegetables available year-round. Imports of these products are regulated by USDA's Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) to reduce the risk of inadvertent entry of pests and diseases that could harm agriculture, public health, navigation, irrigation, natural resources, or the environment.
This data product identifies which countries, under APHIS
phytosanitary rules, are eligible to export to the United
States the fresh fruits and vegetables that are most important
in the American diet. Data on the absolute and relative
importance of these countries in international fruit and
vegetable production and trade, individually and in aggregate,
are also included. Having access to information on countries
that are currently eligible to export these products to
the United States lays the foundation for better understanding
trade patterns and can underpin analyses of the market
effects of phytosanitary rules. This data product supports
the objectives of the Program for Research on the Economics
of Invasive Species (PREISM) under which ERS funds and
conducts research in consultation with APHIS and other
USDA agencies to improve the economic basis of decisionmaking
concerning invasive species issues, policies, and programs.
Why This Product Is Important
Under international trade rules of the World Trade Organization
(WTO), sanitary and phytosanitary regulations that prohibit
or restrict imports of products to combat the potential
entry and establishment of pests or diseases are permitted
if based on scientific risk assessment. The use of these
regulations by countries is widespread. In the United
States, APHIS regulates imports of fresh fruits and vegetables
under the Plant Protection Act (PPA) of 2000. Advances
in science and technology are helping APHIS design less
trade restrictive measures that reduce phytosanitary risks
while allowing imports that may lower costs or extend
seasonal availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to
U.S. consumers. Having access to information on countries
that are eligible to export these products to the United
States can underpin analyses of the market effects of
existing import rules and potential changes in these rules.
This data product can also facilitate economic analyses
of other programs and policies related to trade in fresh
fruits and vegetables that are of interest to market participants,
international trade and standards organizations, and development
agencies.
This data product provides a snapshot of country/product
eligibility for use in economic analysis; it does not
provide real time information on the import status of
a country. Changes in phytosanitary regulations that might
occur as the result of recent policy decisions or following
an outbreak, are published throughout the year by APHIS.
For the most current information, see APHIS
Import and Export Information.
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