Mexican tomato producers are concerned as the US Chamber of Commerce has requested increasing the tariff on Mexican tomatoes to 22%, alleging unfair competition. If the increase is authorized, it would take effect starting February.
Jose Alfonso Corona Escobar, a member of the Board of Directors of the Agrizom greenhouse located in the city of Rioverde of the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi, said that in mid-2018 the US Chamber of Commerce reported that US trade authorities had imposed a 20% tariff on Mexican tomato exports. The Mexican government managed to cancel this tariff in mid-2019, he added. However, the United States continues to claim unfair competition and seeks to impose a 22% tariff on Mexican tomatoes.
Currently the Agrizom greenhouse exports 80 tons of tomato per week; 50% of them to the United States and the other half to Japan. According to Corona Escobar, it's more profitable to export tomatoes to Japan because of the changing U.S. tariffs.
This month, representatives of the Mexican tomato sector will attend a meeting in New York with representatives of the US Chamber of Commerce to try to ensure that the suspension agreement is maintained.
Source: planoinformativo.com / pulsoslp.com.mx