The Tomato Suspension Agreement between the US and Mexico is intended to keep the latter from flooding the US market with underpriced tomatoes by suspending duties. However, some industry leaders say it’s not working, and the agreement needs to be terminated so Mexico can be held accountable.
However, others worry that terminating the agreement and making Mexico pay duties or fines for these tomatoes will lead to a shortage of the product. The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is against terminating the agreement.
FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer: “What it would have the practical impact of doing is putting duties of about twenty-point-nine percent on most Mexican tomatoes coming in the United States. There’s a lot of companies that are involved in the imports of Mexican tomatoes, and they play a huge role in the US economy just as much as the growers in the southeast who are growing tomatoes.”
Source: southeastagnet.com