Once again, India has delayed imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on U.S. apples as the two countries continue to negotiate trade differences.

Earlier this month, India bumped back the effective date of the extra tariff to Dec. 17, the latest in a string of several postponements this year as its trade officials have ongoing talks with their U.S. counterparts, said Kate Tynan, vice president of the Northwest Horticultural Council in Yakima, Washington.

India already charges a 50 percent tariff on U.S. apples, which has been in place for many years. Still, in 2017, the nation became the second-largest U.S. apple export market, behind Mexico.

India announced the extra 25 percent tariff in March, in retaliation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs imposed earlier this year under Section 232, which cites national security concerns. However, India continues to delay imposing the extra charge.

The delays are good news for U.S. apple shippers, but they have already affected the industry because of lengthy shipping times, Tynan said.

-by Ross Courtney