AFIA at ITC Hearing

Christine Boldt, Executive Vice President of the Association of Floral Importers of America (AFIA), attended the International Trade Commission (ITC) hearing in Washington, DC, held July 7–9, 2026.

Over the course of the three-day hearing, representatives from numerous industries and countries testified about how the proposed Section 301 tariffs could impact their businesses, products, and trade with the United States.

On behalf of AFIA and the floral import industry, Christine Boldt testified about the significant impact the proposed tariffs would have on flower importers, the broader floral industry, and consumers. She emphasized that flowers imported from Colombia and Ecuador are not produced using forced labor and that the vast majority are certified through independent third-party certification programs to ensure compliance with both local and international labor standards.

Most importantly, she urged the Commission to exclude cut flowers from any new tariffs, noting that the overwhelming majority of flowers sold in the United States are imported and cannot be replaced by domestic production.

The hearings concluded on July 9, and the Commission will now review the testimony before making recommendations to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the 60 countries under review and the proposed tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5%. A final decision is expected by the end of the month.

Photography and video recording were not permitted during the hearings. The photo below was taken before the proceedings began.