https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-almonds/california-wine-and-nut-growers-call-china-tariffs-a-blow-idUSKCN1HA2U1
The additional 15 percent tariff “impacts our ability to compete with our competitors from Iran,” said Matoian. California and Iran over the years have traded the title of world’s top pistachio producer, he added. ……
The Chinese levy on U.S. almonds goes up from 10 percent to 25 percent, said Richard Waycott, president and chief executive of the Almond Board of California.
Nut producers and sellers including Blue Diamond Growers, the Wonderful Co and Emerald Nuts owner Campbell Soup Co (CPB.N) declined comment.
California wine is also taking a hit.
The latest import levy on wine will increase the total tariff and tax paid on a bottle of U.S. wine imported into China from 48.2 percent to 67.7 percent, according to the Wine Institute, which represents 1,000 wineries and affiliated businesses in California.
The United States, predominantly California, exported wine valued at nearly $79 million to China last year, according to the Wine Institute.
Australia could be set to benefit. As well as being geographically closer to China, in 2019 it will begin exporting almonds, wine and other products to China tariff-free.
Chile and New Zealand wines also enter China tariff-free and only pay a 30 percent combined tax rate, the Wine Institute said.
“U.S. producers were already at a disadvantage to many foreign competitors, and this will only exacerbate that problem,” said Robert Koch, president and CEO of Wine Institute.
[So Wonderful Co. are the pair that did all the damage to Fiji and the water supply there]
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2015/11/04/americas-nuttiest-billionaire-couple-amid-drought-stewart-and-lynda-resnick-are-richer-than-ever/#46bda22e3713
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/08/lynda-stewart-resnick-california-water/