Three Congressmen from Arizona with the Texas Congressmen sent letter To the US Trade Department (DOC) on Wednesday calling on the secretary of trade Howard Lutnicka to not end the tomato suspension (TSA) suspension agreement. Doctor announced He intends to withdraw from the tomato suspension agreement in 2019 with Mexico on April 14, 2025, with the fulfillment of the contract on July 14, 2025. This will cause 20.91 percent of tariffs for tomatoes from Mexico.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Az-05), Elijah Crane (R-Az-02), Juan Ciscomani (R-Az-06) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) warned that in Arizona and Texas they would be lost in Arizona and Texas, if TSA is over. Critics claimed that Mexico is throwing its tomatoes at rates lower than straightforward market price on the American market, so you should pay a 20.91 percent tariff penalty for dropping.
TSA began in 1996 and has been renegotiated every five years since then. It regulates the Mexican import of tomatoes, setting reference prices to prevent drops. This ensures stable prices by enforcing minimum reference prices, protecting consumers from variability in other goods, such as eggs.
“TSA secured tens of thousands of American jobs, stabilized markets and strengthened our agricultural sector,” Biggs said in a press release. “Pulling the plug into TSA only harms American families who are still struggling with the radical inflation policy of the Biden-Harris regime. This is an opportunity for President Trump to do what he does best: conclude an agreement that brings benefits to American enterprises, robots and consumers. Congress. “
The letter said: “TSA was never about choosing between American and Mexican works. It is about providing the American industry on honest, forced trade agreements.”
Congressmen further explained: “The leadership of President Trump assured that products in accordance with DSECCA, such as fresh tomatoes, remain released from the tariff to support American jobs and maintain food at an affordable price. Application of new obligations in the amount of over 17% directly is contrary to this vision. The department’s own audits show that it was not violations, lack of price, only stability and honesty. “
American tomato degrees complained that the contract did not work without stopping the Mexican tomato exporters from dropping underestimated tomatoes, which allowed to raise market share.
However, after investigation in 2019, he decided to suspend the investigation under the first administration of Trump. Doctor he said“The basis of the contract was the obligation of each manufacturer/signator’s exporter to sell the goods at a reference price or above, which will completely eliminate the harmful effects of exporting fresh tomatoes to the United States.”
Hidalgo Country Commissioner in Texas Ellie Torres he said If the TSA is completed, the price of tomatoes would probably raise by 50 percent.
Dante Galeazzi, CEO and president of Texas International Produce Association, he said TSA was an “absolute success”, citing the study from Texas A & m University, which found that the import of Mexican tomatoes generates $ 8.33 billion in business activities in the USA. Galeazzi said that Mexican tomatoes are necessary because tomatoes cannot be adult in the US because of the climate.
Mexico did not apply retaliation tariffs on the USA, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum avoided tariffs Strategic concessions on border safety measures and cooperation in the field of fentanyl. USA exported 38.9 million tons of agricultural products to Mexico worth $ 28.5 billion in 2022.
While Trump supported the tariffs against countries that did not play in fair, he withdrew from some of them, where the need did not seem justified. For example, when Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), opposed tariffs due to negative economic effects, such as recession and damage to American consumers and farmers, he announced A 90-day break in most mutual tariffs, except for those in China.
Treasury Secretary of Scott Bessent and Lutnick also apparently He played a key role in forcing Trump to stop tariffs, concerned about the variability of the stock market.
The former Doge leader Elon Musk condemned the tariffs more and more. His companies largely rely on international supply chains affected by tariffs. Published video In April X with the participation of the deceased economist Milton Friedman criticizing the tariffs.
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Rachel Alexander is a reporter in . Arizona Sun Times AND Star News Network. Follow Rachel Twitter / x. E -mail tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rep. Andy Biggs” by Andy Biggs; “Rep. Eli Crane” Rep. Eli Crane; “Juan Ciscomani” Rep. Juan Ciscomani; “Tony Gonzales” Rep. Tony Gonzales.
