Mexican tomato producers and the U.S. government have reached agreement on tomato trade in a deal that will avoid an antidumping investigation, according to Mexican Economy Minister Graciela Marquez.
While 92% of Mexican tomatoes coming into the U.S. will be inspected at the border – a “controversial proposal,” according to a statement from several Mexican agricultural organizations – the deal would also raise the reference price of specialty tomatoes and an increase in the price of organic tomatoes that would amount to a 40% increase compared with conventional tomatoes.
The groups releasing the statement included the SPTN tomato producers group.
The deal calls for a “sunset review” of the agreement by September 2024.
Mexico’s Marquez said on social media that the accord was “good news” that will keep the U.S. market open to Mexican tomatoes, noting the deal was reached just before midnight August 20. That will allow for a 30-day comment period before a September 19 deadline from the U.S. Department of Commerce to complete its antidumping investigation.
Resolution of the issue could help ease concerns about vegetable imports from Mexico that some lawmakers have cited and it could help build further support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Congress.
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