Commerce Department Moves to Protect U.S. Tomato Growers

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced plans to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement that had suspended the antidumping investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The termination will take effect in 90 days, with an antidumping duty order set to go into place on July 14, 2025. That duty? It’ll be 20.91% on most tomato imports from Mexico.

The decision comes after U.S. tomato growers raised concerns about unfairly priced imports, arguing the current agreement wasn’t protecting them. According to the Department of Commerce, this move aims to restore fair competition for American producers.

Tomatoes are grown commercially in many U.S. states, but Florida and California are by far the largest producers. And growers here have been feeling the squeeze. Since 2000, U.S. fresh tomato import volumes have increased by a staggering 176%, according to 2024 USDA data: https://ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=109371

The Commerce Department says enforcing trade laws is a top priority and that antidumping duties are one way American businesses can seek relief from unfair pricing practices.

For tomato growers across the Southeast, this could be a major shift in the competitive landscape.

For more: https://www.trade.gov/press-release/us-department-commerce-announces-intent-withdraw-2019-suspension-agreement-fresh