Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) praised the Department of Commerce's decision to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, saying, "This has been a priority of ours for years in Florida."
For additional context, the 2019 Agreement mandated that Mexican tomato growers sell their produce at a price equal to or greater than an established reference price to prevent the detrimental effects of fresh tomato imports into the United States.
However, the agreement left American growers at a disadvantage, and with the withdrawal, imported Mexican tomatoes will be subject to a 21% duty.
In addition to calling the recent announcement of the withdrawal "a priority of ours for years in Florida," Rep. Cammack said, "For half a decade now, our producers have been subject to an unfair marketplace. In the past five years alone, Mexican tomato producers have violated the suspension agreement over 100 times. The economic impact of these violations has been catastrophic on our domestic tomato producers."
"I've long been a champion of free but fair trade. Since the beginning of 2000, we have dropped from 250 producers to just 25," Rep. Cammack continued. "I'm grateful the Trump administration is working so hard to enforce international U.S. trade laws, and I know our tomato producers in Florida will be relieved to once more have a level playing field. As the only Florida Member on the House Agriculture Committee, I'm proud to work on behalf of our farmers, ranchers, and producers to deliver the support they deserve and keep their industry alive. Food security is national security, which is why ensuring our producers are protected from unfair trade practices is critical."
The Florida Congresswoman's remarks echo her colleague, Representative Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), who told The Floridian, "I am tired of people on TV saying that we have fair trade right now. It is not fair trade."
"This is not 1945; this is 2025. In 1945, the rest of the world was devastated by World War II, and we wanted to help all nations, right? And we have done that, but now we are saying, 'Hey, treat us fairly. We have been a great trading partner of yours for years. Why are you taxing us here and ours not being equal?' The President is saying, 'Let's equal this out," Rep. Haridopolos added.
