Industry representatives gathered at a press conference last month at Traveler Produce in Pharr, Texas, to call on federal officials to preserve and modernize the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement, following the Department of Commerce announcing it would to begin the process of withdrawing from the deal.
Texas International Produce Association President and CEO Dante Galeazzi told The Packer that this is similar to what has happened every five years when the Commerce Department conducts a “sunset review” of the agreement, where parties can agree to withdraw, negotiate or maintain the current agreement.
“If you look at what happened in 2018 into 2019, the Department of Commerce initiated the intention to withdraw,” he said. “We had tariffs for a small time frame, and then everybody came to the table and a new deal was hammered out, and hence, the 2019 tomato suspension agreement.
“That is akin to the path that we are on today,” he continued. “It is also akin to the path that this agreement has followed since its initial inception back in the ’90s, which is that every five years it’s got to go into this, this sunset review.”
Galeazzi said TIPA and other organizations and produce industry businesses interested in remaining in a tomato suspension agreement will use the time between now and July 14 — when the department will institute a duty of 20.91% on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico — to raise awareness for the implications of the potential cancellation.
“We are continuing to tell the story about the importance of the tomato suspension agreement, what it means to the U.S. marketplace, what it means to the industry, and then for those of us along the border, what it means to our communities that actually house all these jobs.”
TIPA shared the data from a 2025 economic study conducted by Texas A&M University’s Center for North American Studies that showed the U.S. imported $3.12 billion worth of fresh tomatoes from Mexico, supporting 46,936 American jobs with an impact on the total U.S. economy of over $8.33 billion. For every $1 of Mexican tomatoes imported, the U.S. receives $2.67 of domestic economic benefit, according to TIPA.
Following the press conference, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, talked about the importance of the tomato suspension agreement on South Texas.
“South Texans need economic stability, not chaos and higher prices,” he said. “The termination of the tomato suspension agreement will be detrimental to produce prices in Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. About 50% of all Mexican tomatoes enter through ports of entry in the Rio Grande Valley and are an essential food in our community. I have always been a staunch advocate for more fair trade between our trading partners, but the termination of this agreement will cause us more harm than good.”
Galeazzi said those interested in remaining in the tomato suspension agreement must continue to speak up to elected officials and raise awareness with consumers about its importance.
“These 90 days are critical because in this time frame, we have to build up not just our support of our elected officials, but we have to build up industry support, and we have to build up consumer support,” he said. “We are looking to build support and education around the issue. If these decisions are being made in a vacuum in the Department of Commerce, and they’re only looking at one or two factors; that’s not the whole story. And so right now, this, this time until July 14 is essentially a support campaign.”
Galeazzi said many items are before the Trump administration, including negotiating trade deals, budget negotiations, farm bill conversations and labor reform. He said this is why associations in favor of the tomato suspension agreement need to continue to keep it top of mind for the administration.
“We’re trying to make the noise that we are to ensure people don’t forget about this issue,” he said. “It’s key, and it will sneak up on you if you don’t think about it.”
Your next read:
- U.S. begins process to end tomato suspension agreement with Mexico
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- More associations speak in favor of tomato suspension agreement
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