Tariffs and Chinese Garlic

📌 Background

• China is the world’s largest garlic producer, and most of what they grow is softneck garlic (the same kind you usually see in grocery stores).

• The U.S. garlic industry — particularly in California — has long argued that Chinese garlic was being dumped (sold below cost) and hurting American growers.

• Because of this, the U.S. government imposed antidumping duties on Chinese garlic starting back in the mid-1990s.

💰 Tariffs on Chinese Garlic

• Those tariffs (called antidumping duties) are still in effect today.

• They specifically apply to fresh garlic imports from China — overwhelmingly softneck garlic.

• Importers of Chinese garlic must pay these duties, which makes it far more expensive compared to U.S.-grown garlic.

• Over the years, rates have varied, but they’ve often been well above 300% of the product value — enough to discourage massive imports.

🌱 Effect on the Market

• Because Chinese garlic is mostly softneck, the tariffs don’t impact hardneck varieties much (China grows some hardneck, but it’s minimal).

• The duties protect U.S. growers (California especially, but also Midwest and East Coast farms) by keeping Chinese garlic from undercutting prices.

• This is why U.S.-grown garlic — especially hardneck from Northern states like Illinois — is competitive and has a strong local market.