Schumer, Gillibrand push New York apple, pear exports to Europe

Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand want to see more New York apples and pears headed to European markets.

The two New York Democrats are making the plea as the Obama Administration gears up for another round of trade talks this coming week with European authorities in Belgium.

Schumer and Gillibrand wrote a letter to the U.S. trade representative seeking to lower trade barriers for U.S. apple and pear exports to Europe. The senators say regulations in Europe unfairly disadvantage U.S. produce like apples and pears.

The senators say apple exports to the European Union dropped 73 percent from 2006 to 2012 and that pear exports to those countries have dropped 73 percent from 2009 to 2012.