Late last week, members of the Florida congressional delegation sent letters to Lisa Barton, the secretary to the US International Trade Commission (ITC), on Mexico’s agricultural trade practices, accusing them of being unfair.
Florida’s two US senators —Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott– were joined by other Florida Republican US Representatives. In the letter, the Florida Republicans called for the ITC to investigate how Mexico’s trade policies are hurting strawberry and bell pepper growers in the Sunshine State.
“As representatives of Florida’s farming community, we write with regard to the decision made by the International Trade Commission (ITC) and federal agency partners to address concerns of increased Mexican imports of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables. For years, Florida growers have suffered disproportionate economic harm due to unfairly traded Mexican imports. The trading practices employed are a substantial cause of serious injury to Florida’s industry, placing the future of this critical domestic food supplier and its economic contributions to the state and nation at risk,” the Florida Republicans wrote.