The US Department of Commerce announced the termination of the agreement on May 7, under which an anti-dumping investigation into the import of Mexican tomatoes is being conducted.

Producers and importers of Mexican tomatoes and segments of the US tomato industry, as well as American lawmakers continue to express their opinion on this matter.

On the one hand, American tomato producers, especially in Florida, claim that Mexican imports violated the agreement and threaten the existence of their industry. On the other hand, the American Fresh Food Association (FPAA) said the termination of the agreement could endanger 33,000 jobs in the United States and cause tomato prices to go up in grocery stores.

A letter sent to the Department of Commerce, the FPAA, said the department’s decision to withdraw would have an immediate effect, citing a study from the University of Arizona. The FPAA claims that even a 5% reduction in Mexican tomato supplies will result in consumers paying up to 25 cents a pound of tomatoes in supermarkets or up to $ 790 million a year. Lans Jungmeyer, president of the American Fresh Food Association, said: it is that the leaders of the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) are campaigning to portray themselves as victims of trade, while using the U.S. trade law to corner the market and crowd out competition. ”