Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott has introduced the United States Citrus Protection Act, a bill focused on banning the import of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit from China into the United States. By doing so, the proposal aims to shield domestic employment, maintain the purity of U.S. agriculture, and decrease reliance on products from countries considered threats by the U.S. government. Congressman Greg Steube is backing the bill in the House of Representatives.

The move is in line with Senator Scott’s correspondence with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, where he expressed support for the administration's efforts toward American farmers and laid out his priorities in agriculture. These priorities include safeguarding American farmers and producers from foreign interference.

Senator Scott stated, "Communist China is an adversary to the United States and one of the greatest threats to our national security, economic security, food security, and American way of life. For years, we have seen how Communist China seeks global dominance, and is willing to undermine our markets, circumvent trade practices, and destroy American businesses to do so. This is a regime that doesn’t play by our rules, follow our safety standards, or have Americans’ best interests in mind."

He also mentioned the challenges Florida citrus growers have faced due to citrus greening, a problem he attributed to origins in China. Scott elaborated, "My bill, the United States Citrus Protection Act, stands up for American citrus growers by stopping the import of these products from Communist China. Every American can take a stand too – we can make the choice to STOP buying anything made in Communist China and instead support American growers, American jobs, and American products."