Trump Administration Imposes Tariffs on Mexican Tomato Imports
The Trump Administration on July 14 announcement the imposition of a 17% tariff on Mexican tomato imports, effectively ending a nearly three-decade old agreement between the U.S. and Mexico to monitor this trade.
According to economists at the University of Arizona, the retail price at U.S. grocery stores for Mexico-origin tomatoes could increase by as much as 10%. The U.S. has traditionally imported 70% of its tomatoes from Mexico.
The Commerce Department will be issuing an antidumping duty order, resulting in duties of 17.09% on most tomato imports from Mexico. Antidumping duties are calculated to measure the percentage by which Mexican tomatoes have been sold in the U.S. at unfair prices, the Commerce Department said.
The Commerce Department on April 14 announced its intention to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, with termination effective in 90 days, or July 14. The Tomato Suspension Agreement between the U.S. and Mexico has been in place since 1996.