Bill Aims to Pay U.S. Garlic Growers Owed Anti-Dumping Funds

Legislation introduced to require federal government to distribute duties collected from Chinese imports to American producers

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Two California legislators have introduced a bill that would require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency to distribute anti-dumping duties it has collected from Chinese garlic imports to American agricultural producers, including Gilroy-based Christopher Ranch, the largest garlic producer in the U.S.

Why it matters

This legislation aims to provide restitution to U.S. garlic growers who have been negatively impacted by the illegal practice of dumping Chinese garlic into the American market over the past two decades, undermining domestic competition.

The details

The China Trade Cheating Restitution Act, introduced by Reps. Jimmy Panetta and David Valadao, would force the CBP to pay out the $10.5 million in anti-dumping duties it has collected from 2000-2014 to affected producers like Christopher Ranch. The company's CEO says these funds are owed to American farmers who have been harmed by unfair trade practices.

  • The anti-dumping duties were collected by the CBP between 2000-2014.
  • The bill was introduced by Reps. Panetta and Valadao last week.

The players

Christopher Ranch

The largest garlic producer in the U.S., based in Gilroy, California.

Ken Christopher

CEO of Christopher Ranch.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta

U.S. Representative for California's 19th congressional district, who introduced the bill.

Rep. David Valadao

U.S. Representative for California's 22nd congressional district, who introduced the bill.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP)

The federal agency that collected the anti-dumping duties from Chinese garlic imports.

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What they’re saying

“Since 2000, Christopher Ranch is one of several large California garlic growers that are owed duties and fines from overseas operators that continually skirt U.S. law. Christopher Ranch is committed to working with every branch of our government to bring an end to these illegal farming practices that negatively hurt farmers across our great nation.”

— Ken Christopher, CEO, Christopher Ranch (gilroydispatch.com)

“The federal government has failed to pay the required restitution to impacted producers from the dumping duties it collected on Chinese garlic imports. This bipartisan bill would right that wrong by requiring CBP to pay all collected duties and interest to those in our agricultural sector who deserve it.”

— Rep. Jimmy Panetta (gilroydispatch.com)

“Since 2000, Customs and Border Protection has collected duties on these imports as required by law, yet our growers still haven't received the payments they're owed. This bipartisan, bicameral bill ensures domestic producers finally receive those funds and gives them a fair chance to compete in the domestic market.”

— Rep. David Valadao (gilroydispatch.com)

What’s next

The China Trade Cheating Restitution Act must now go through the legislative process in Congress before potentially becoming law.

The takeaway

This bill aims to provide long-overdue restitution to American garlic growers who have been harmed by the illegal practice of Chinese companies dumping their products into the U.S. market, undermining domestic competition. If passed, it would force the federal government to finally pay out the anti-dumping duties it has collected to the rightful producers.