The paper
This study examines US plant-health restrictions on fresh fruit and vegetables. It documents how a system requiring explicit authorization for each exporting country and product can constrain market access, alongside evidence on the political economy of those decisions.
Research findings
- The United States authorizes fewer fresh-fruit and vegetable suppliers than comparator markets such as the EU and Canada, and only some authorized countries actually export.
- Market access is more restricted in sectors making political contributions, evidence consistent with domestic political interests influencing the authorization process.
Policy takeaways
- Give plant-health market-access procedures a prominent place in trade discussions and export diagnostics.
- Support transparent, science-based authorization processes and the technical capacity exporters need to meet phytosanitary requirements.