I recently asked the public affairs office of the U.S. International Trade Administration about the status of the talks for a new tomato suspension agreement between Mexican tomato growers and the U.S.
Here is the update from the agency:
In January 2018, Commerce informed CAADES et al. (the Mexican growers) by letter that we were opening consultations on a possible renegotiation of the 2013 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico (Agreement). Those talks are ongoing, but the details are not public. Litigation challenging the 2013 Agreement has been stayed to allow for these consultations to proceed, with a joint status report due to the court on December 4, 2018. Commerce initiated the latest five-year sunset review in early February 2018; Commerce is due to issue its final results of the sunset review on December 18, 2018. If Commerce determines there is a likelihood of dumping in the absence of the Agreement and suspended investigation, then the International Trade Commission will proceed with making a final injury determination in its sunset review. At the request of interested parties, Commerce has also initiated an administrative review of the status of, and compliance with, the Agreement. Commerce will issue the preliminary results of the administrative review on December 3, 2018 (although this date may be extended).
TK: Read the 2013 suspension agreement here. By the end of the year, we should know whether a new tomato suspension agreement will be negotiated or if rocky times are ahead for U.S. imports of Mexican tomatoes.
