IFPA has called on the US to exempt fresh produce from a new round of tariffs
The International Fresh Produce Association Australia and New Zealand (IFPA ANZ), in collaboration with the International Fresh Produce Association, has called on the Trump administration to exempt fresh produce from its new round of import tariffs.
The IFPA ANZ has warned that the proposed measures risk disrupting year-round access to healthy, affordable fresh produce for US consumers and harming Australia and New Zealand’s export market.
Currently in the US, IFPA managing director ANZ Belinda Wilson is working alongside global IFPA colleagues to advocate for an exemption and to support a coordinated response on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand industry.
“This is a pivotal moment for the fresh produce industry,” Wilson said.
“Tariffs on Australian and New Zealand fresh produce would restrict trade, limit access and increase food costs at a time when global food security is already under pressure.”
A formal letter from IFPA was submitted last week to US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick, secretary of agriculture Brooke Rollins and US trade representative Jamieson Greer. It urged the administration to exempt fresh produce and floral products, citing their perishable nature, contribution to public health, and the shared value of seasonal trade partnerships.
The IFPA global board met with White House officials on 20 March, where trade, tariffs and food security were key issues under discussion, reinforcing the importance of continued international collaboration.
Wilson will meet with US stakeholders and Australian Embassy officials on 8 April to continue discussions and assess next steps in response to the tariff decision.
The top Australian fresh produce export to the US is citrus, according to data from Hort Innovation 5,433 tonnes of mandarins, 4,083 tonnes of oranges were shipped the year ending June 2024.
According to the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industry’s Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries, the US market accounted for 8 per cent of kiwifruit exports and 7 per cent of apple and pear exports by value in the 12 months to 30 June 2024.
The implications of the new tariffs and the need for coordinated advocacy will be central themes at the IFPA ANZ Leadership Summit 2025 – Sydney: The Future of Fresh on 29 April.
In the session “Leading the Future: Advocacy and Action for the Fresh Produce Industry”, Wilson will be joined by a representative from the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance to discuss how the industry can respond with unity, influence public policy, and chart a proactive path forward, particularly in the lead-up to the Australian federal election on 3 May.
“The tariff decision underscores the need for a united, strategic voice,” Wilson said.
“The Summit is where we come together to shape our response and ensure our sector is prepared for what comes next.”
