YAKIMA, Wash. -- Washington state apples escaped a tariff imposed by Mexico in retaliation for a halt to Mexican trucks entering the United States.

Several other area fruit crops were not as fortunate.

A lengthy list of products will be bound by tariffs taking effect today, including pears, cherries and apricots, all of which will be subject to a 20 percent tariff.

Fresh pears, the only affected crop being exported to Mexico at this time of year, will see an increase of up to $4 per box, industry officials said. The current average per-box price is $18.

Mexico is a $40 million market for Washington and Oregon growers and is the Northwest's largest export market for Anjou pears. The Northwest states of Washington and Oregon have shipped 1.36 million boxes so far this year on the heels of almost 2 million boxes last year, according to the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association.

The average Northwest pear crop exceeds 13 million boxes.

"I think, without a doubt, this will hurt the pear guys," said Mark Powers, vice president of the Northwest Horticultural Council in Yakima. The council represents the tree-fruit industry on trade and other issues.

Beyond that, the industry tried Wednesday to assess the tariff's impact.

Part of the impact will depend on how long the tariff lasts, said Jeff Correa, international marketing manager for Pear Bureau Northwest, the promotional arm for growers in the region.

"If the feeling is this is going to be long-term, I don't think it will shut off volume. It will reduce it," Correa said. "There will still be room to sell fruit. The market will need to adjust."

He said shippers with pears en route will try to get the fruit into Mexico before the tariff takes effect.

Cherries and apricots are out of season and won't be affected unless the tariff stretches into the early summer. The Northwest shipped 50,000 boxes of cherries to Mexico last year out of a total crop of 8.9 million boxes.

Mexico imposed the tariff after the United States ended a pilot program that allowed some Mexican trucks to transport goods in the United States.

Mexican officials described the decision as protectionist and a violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The Obama administration responded to the tariffs by saying U.S. officials will work with Congress to come up with a new trucking program. No timetable was given.

Washington apples were left off the list apparently because an additional duty already is in place for apples entering what is the industry's largest apple export market with 9 million boxes shipped there last season.

Powers, of the horticultural council, said it's unfortunate Northwest fruit will be affected since the industry has long supported Mexico's position on compliance with NAFTA.

"There is no good that comes out of something like this. It will cost people money," Powers said. "The last thing anyone needs is protectionism during a recession."

* David Lester can be reached at 577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.