Tomato Suspension Agreement Is Officially Over – What Now?
The U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement is officially no more. Earlier in the spring, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its intent to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement suspending the antidumping investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico.
According to the government agency, the agreement failed to protect U.S. tomato growers from unfairly priced Mexican imports. This economic issue has been one of contention for many years, especially for Florida growers. The termination of the tomato suspension agreement now will allow U.S. tomato growers to compete fairly in the marketplace.
With the 2019 Agreement officially terminated as of July 14, 2025, the Commerce Department is issuing an antidumping duty order, resulting in duties of 17.09% on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico. According to the Department of Commerce, antidumping duties are calculated to measure the percentage by which Mexican tomatoes have been sold in the U.S. at unfair prices.
Robert Guenther, Executive VP of the Florida Tomato Exchange, released a statement in response to the official end of the agreement. It reads as follows:
“[The] decision is an enormous victory for American tomato farmers and American agriculture. We’re grateful for the decisive, bold, and crucial action taken by the Trump administration to terminate the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement. This decision will protect hardworking American tomato growers from unfair Mexican trading practices and send a strong signal that the Trump Administration is committed to ensuring fair markets for American agriculture. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recognized that five previous agreements with Mexico had failed and that strong enforcement of U.S. trade laws is needed to protect the stability of our food supply chain.
“By standing up for American agriculture, the Trump administration has defended the rule of law and prioritized fairness in trade. This action ensures that American consumers will have more choices and higher-quality products, while strengthening America’s food system against future disruptions. We commend Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for his clear-eyed assessment and courageous action in finally terminating this flawed and ineffective agreement.”
What do you think about the decision to terminate the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement? Leave a reader comment below.