The Trump administration imposes a 17 % tariff on fresh Mexican tomatoes star-news.press/wp

The Trump administration imposes a 17 % tariff on most fresh Mexican tomatoes, the federal government He said the twoEnd an agreement over the years with the southern neighbor of the United States on commercial practices.

This step comes amid a separate batch of President Trump to increase the definitions of dozens of commercial partners, including Mexico, which was said during the weekend. Expect 30 % tariff starting in August. Critics argue that the president’s tariff strategy can raise the prices of consumers. But Trade Minister Howard Lootnik said in a statement on Monday that the decision of the tomatoes “is in line with President Trump’s commercial policies and its approach with Mexico.”

“Mexico is still one of our greatest allies, but for a long time our farmers have been crushed through unfair commercial practices that undermine prices on products such as tomatoes. This ends today,” Lootnick said in A. statement.

The United States gets about 70 % of its tomatoes from Mexico, according to the exchange of tomatoes in Florida. Tomatoes are approximately $ 3 billion from Mexico to the United States every year, which is a jump for nearly three times over the past fifteen years, Federal data appears.

Supporters argue that the customs tariff can give a boost to the manufacture of local tomatoes, which the exchange of tomatoes in Florida says it is “destroyed by the flow of cheap Mexican tomatoes.” But others warn that this step may lead to high prices and hurt American companies that depend on imported tomatoes.

Follow the definitions complex, Almost three decades of conflict On allegations that Mexican tomato producers were illegally selling tomatoes to the United States at unnamed low prices, which harms American farmers. Federal government A deal In 2019-during the first period of Mr. Trump-which avoided “anti-dumping” duties on tomatoes in exchange for approval of Mexican producers at the minimum selling price.

In April, the Trade Department Declare The United States will come out of this deal within 90 days, saying it “has failed to protect it from tomato farmers from unfair Mexican imports.” The Ministry of Commerce said it will impose definitions of 20.91 % – slightly higher than the 17.09 % fees announced on Monday.

The exchange of tomatoes in Florida praised this step in a statement on Monday. It was described by Robert Gwinter, the group’s executive, as “a tremendous victory for American tomato farmers and American agriculture.”

A group of legislators in Florida-which is one of the largest states produced by tomatoes in the United States- Praise the planned duties In a letter to Lottennik last month. Senator Rick Scott, Republican in Florida, He called this step “A great victory for American farmers and producers.”

But the American Chamber of Commerce Urge Lutnick not to get out of the deal on FridayOn the pretext that the Trump administration should try to cut a new deal with Mexico instead. “The import and sale of Mexican tomatoes generates an estimated $ 8.3 billion of economic benefits,” the group said, and warned against clouds against the deal may lead to revenge on Mexico.

“It is possible that the termination of the agreement will have widespread repercussions on the American economy, which affects agriculture, storage, logistics, groceries and restaurants,” the group said in a letter to Lootnick.

The approximation also led to the decision of the two to criticism from some Democrats.

“Arizona, buy your tomatoes now !!” Senator Robin Galigo, Democrat Arizona, wrote on X last week. “Grocery stores are already expensive. (Mr. Trump) needs the opposite of this decision now.”

“Salsa will be more stable, furnished, with a more expensive disturbance. Tens of thousands of jobs, including 30,000 Texas, will be in danger,” MP Silvia Garcia, a democratic in Texas, will books On x.

Ministries of Agriculture and Economy in Mexico I criticized this step in a statement On Monday, he said that “it is not only and against the interests of Mexican producers, but also about the United States industry.” They also said that the massive growth in tomato exports to the United States “stems from the quality of the product, and not from any unfair practices.” The Mexican government said it expects to find a solution to the conflict.

Mr. Trump sent messages to dozens of commercial partners last week, threatening the highest customs tariff starting in August, as he partially restored some of the rural drawings that were presented by the Trump administration in April, but it was quickly delayed for 90 days. The president argues that the customs tariff is necessary to protect local jobs and correct unfair commercial practices, but many economists argue that definitions can lead to slow economic growth and high prices.

Food prices grew by 2.9 % in the 12-month period ending in May-higher than the 2.4 % inflation rate in the country, but much less than mid-2012, when food prices increased by 10 % on an annual basis, according to federal data. Tomato price 6.8 % decreased From May 2024 to May 2025.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell Tell the legislators last month It is expected that the definitions will have some prices on prices. But he added: “We don’t really know how much it will be passed through the consumer. We have to wait and see.”

Associated Press

He contributed to this report.