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The U.S. government says it will put a nearly 21% tax on most tomatoes from Mexico this summer. They say the current deal isn’t protecting U.S. tomato farmers from cheap Mexican tomatoes.
On Monday, the Commerce Department said it will leave the 2019 trade deal with Mexico. Starting July 14, it will place “antidumping” duties on tomatoes.
The department said this will help American tomato growers compete fairly.
If Caribbean importers can buy directly from Mexico or China, they may dodge U.S. price hikes. But if they rely on U.S. supply chains, especially Florida-based distributors, then yes — they’ll likely feel the pinch too, especially if importing canned tomatoes and ketchups via the US.
Back in President Trump’s first term, the U.S. made a deal with Mexican tomato producers to avoid a 25% tariff. That 2019 agreement had rules to stop low-quality tomatoes from being imported and set fair prices for different types.
Earlier in 2019, the U.S. had also warned Mexico it would back out of the agreement after tomato growers in Florida complained that Mexico was selling tomatoes too cheaply and hurting U.S. farmers.
Mexico is the U.S.’s top supplier of tomatoes, fruits, and vegetables.
The two countries have had other trade tensions, too. For example, the U.S. recently threatened more tariffs because Mexico didn’t send enough water from the Rio Grande River, as required by a 1944 treaty.
Last Friday, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum promised to send the water right away to farmers in Texas.
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