Florida Statement on the Negotiations for a New Tomato Suspension Agreement

PRESS RELEASE Washington, DC, May 10, 2019 – The American tomato industry has been working with the Commerce Department for the last year as the Department has attempted to negotiate a new suspension agreement to prevent injury from dumped imports of Mexican tomatoes.

Today the domestic industry agreed to key elements of a new Commerce Department proposal for an effective and fair agreement. We are disappointed to learn that the Mexican tomato industry has rejected that proposal. The American industry appreciates the Commerce Department’s efforts and is prepared to continue working with the Department.

About the Florida Tomato Exchange: The member companies of the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) produce over 90% of the tomatoes grown in Florida and are among the largest producers of tomatoes in California, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. Our member companies produce approximately 50% of the fresh-market tomatoes grown in the U.S. The FTE is the domestic petitioner in the antidumping case against fresh tomatoes from Mexico.

Media Contact:
Michael Schadler
Executive Vice President
Florida Tomato Exchange
michael@floridatomatoes.org