US slaps 17% duty on most Mexican fresh tomatoes
The United States is imposing antidumping duties on most imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico, the US Commerce Department said Monday as Washington alleged its neighbor engaged in unfair trade. The duties, set at 17.09 percent, come after Washington moved to terminate a 2019 agreement that staved off such charges.
'Mexico remains one of our greatest allies, but for far too long our farmers have been crushed by unfair trade practices that undercut pricing on produce like tomatoes. That ends today,' Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement.
'This rule change is in line with President (Donald) Trump's trade policies and approach with Mexico,' he said.
Mexico is a dominant supplier of US fresh tomato imports, and the US Commerce Department said that antidumping duties are calculated to measure the percentage by which Mexican tomatoes were sold in the country at 'unfair prices.'
The United States had announced it was withdrawing from the tomato agreement in April, arguing that the action was meant to help American tomato growers compete fairly.
But observers have expressed concern that the duties could cause a spike in tomato prices. On Monday, the Mexican government said it was working with tomato producers to limit the effects of the 17 percent duty.
'We are working together to minimize the impact,' President Claudia Sheinbaum said at her regular morning press conference, without giving details.
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