Florida Tomato Exchange: Terminating the suspension agreement will level the playing field for U.S. growers

Robert Guenther, Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange BB #:162441 released this statement April 24, 2025:

The Commerce Department’s intent to terminate the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement affirms fair and competitive trade, upholds the rule of law, and restores integrity in our agricultural markets.

While originally intended to address unfair trade, the Suspension Agreement has repeatedly failed to protect American tomato farmers from unfairly priced Mexican imports.

Secretary Lutnick’s decision is the culmination of nearly three decades of evidence gathering, public hearings, legal challenges, and data submissions. There is a substantial record of abusive pricing and quality issues that have disadvantaged U.S. growers — especially those in Florida and the Southeast.

The prior failures of the Suspension Agreement led to a significant decline in the market share of American tomato farmers, from 80% in 1994 to just 30% today, while Mexican imports have surged by nearly 400%. This has led to economic harm to domestic growers, including farm closures and job losses in key agricultural states.

The Florida Tomato Exchange, along with a broad coalition of bipartisan members of Congress, the American Farm Bureau, and numerous state agricultural associations, supports the Commerce Department’s intent to terminate this ineffective agreement. We believe this is the only way to level the playing field and provide American tomato farmers with a fair opportunity to compete.

Terminating the agreement will lead to a more robust and reliable tomato market, one that prioritizes transparency, mutual accountability, and long-term, domestic food security. This will enable a fair market where all producers can compete equitably and adhere to the law.