HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 03031987 - 87-130 IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In the Matter of Supporting)
HR750, Also Known as the ) Resolution No. ?71130
Rose Equity Bill )
WHEREAS, Roses from countries such as Colombia, Mexico,
The Netherlands and Israel are much cheaper than the
domestically grown blooms because the governments of those
countries subsidize their rose industries; and
WHEREAS, Local growers cannot compete with a foreign
government; and
WHEREAS, Importers of fresh cut roses now pay the U.S.
tariff equal to 8 percent of the value of the roses.
Growers sending their blooms to the Common Market countries
pay tariff in the summer equal to 24 percent of the value of
the roses and related shipping costs. The tariff in the
winter is 17 percent; and
WHEREAS, The higher tariffs in Europe have created a
"one-way street" that heads straight to the United States;
and
WHEREAS, Clearly we' re effectively barred from using
the European Economic Community ( Common Market) as a
marketplace for U.S. grown merchandise; and
WHEREAS, Now foreign blooms comprise 30 percent of the
U:S. rose market. From 1985 to 1986 imports increased 24
percent to 215 million roses; and
WHEREAS, If this trend is not curbed by legislation we
will .see many casualties among Contra Costa County' s rose
growers;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, ' that the Board of
Supervisors do hereby urge the California legislature to
pass Rep. Leon Panetta' s bill, HR750, also known as the Rose
Equity Bill and co-sponsored by Rep. George Miller, in the
interest of protecting the American Growers Market.
PASSED AND ADOPTED ON March 3 , 1987 , by unanimous vote
of the Board members present.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and
correct copy of a resolution entered in the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date aforesaid.
Witness my hand and the seal of the
Board of Supervisors affixed this
third day of March, 1987
Attested: Phil Batchelor, Clerk of
the Board of Supervisors and County
Administrator.
By Deputy Clerk
Introduced by
Supervis -Nancy C. Fanden
District II