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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Business briefs: Washington producers dumping apples

From Wire Reports

PATEROS, Wash. – Apple producers in the state are dumping millions of dollars of fruit that can’t be sold.

KING-TV reported that millions of pounds of apples are being dumped to rot under the sun in places like Pateros.

Industry officials blame a combination of issues. Last season, Washington growers produced the biggest apple crop in their history. In addition, recent labor disputes at Washington ports left apples sitting, sometimes for weeks.

KING reported that left lots of apples unusable, even for processing.

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association estimates $95 million in lost sales due to apples that could not ship.

GM ignition switch death toll rises to 107

DETROIT – The death toll from faulty ignition switches in small cars made by General Motors has reached 107.

Victims’ families are being offered compensation of at least $1 million each by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM last year. In addition, GM has agreed to make offers to 199 people who were injured in crashes caused by the switches in the Chevrolet Cobalt and other older-model cars.

GM recalled 2.6 million of the cars last year but acknowledged it knew about problems with the switches for more than a decade.

Feinberg’s compensation fund received 4,342 claims by the Jan. 31 deadline. About 9 percent remain under review. Just under 83 percent were deemed deficient or ineligible.

GM paid $200 million to settle claims filed with Feinberg as of March 31.

Taxi drivers march against Uber in Mexico

MEXICO CITY – Hundreds of taxi drivers marched through Mexico City Monday chanting “Uber Out!” and demanding city authorities ban the online ride service.

Some drove their pink-and-white cabs in ranks, snarling traffic along the city’s main boulevard.

The drivers say Uber and other ride-sharing services evade the tax, registration and safety laws that regular cabs are subject to.

Taxi drivers’ leader Eleazar Romero told the rally that “we are not against technology. We just want a level playing field, we want everyone to follow the same tax rules we do.”

Taxi leaders apologized for affecting traffic but claimed they were facing unfair competition.

Uber responded on its blog by offering Mexico City commuters free rides on Monday, with hashtags that roughly translate as “If Mexico won’t stop, Uber won’t stop.”

It said commuters could take up to two rides worth about $10 for free.

Mexico City officials have said they would study ways to regulate the app but also stressed that regular cabs should bring themselves up to date and use apps as well.

Mexico City cabs are sometimes poorly maintained, and have frequently been implicated in assaults on passengers and overcharging.

China cuts import tax on clothes, other goods

BEIJING – China has announced it will cut import taxes on clothing, cosmetics and some other goods by half in a new tactic to spur consumer spending.

The Finance Ministry said Monday the reductions, which take effect June 1, will be “conducive to a reasonable expansion of imports.”

Beijing is in the midst of a marathon effort to reduce reliance on trade and investment by encouraging domestic consumption.

The tariff cuts will apply to clothing, shoes, skin care products, baby food and supplies, and kitchen utensils.