The US will begin imposing tariffs of more than 20 per cent on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico, citing “unfairly priced” shipments from the country.
A current trade agreement with Mexico for tomatoes failed to protect US growers, the Department of Commerce said in a statement released Monday. It slapped a 20.91% anti-dumping duty on most shipments of the commodity that will begin on July 14.
Anti-dumping duties are typically applied after a government investigation finds that products are flooding the US at unfair prices, making these levies slightly different than the broader tariffs in President Donald Trump’s trade war.
Mexico is the biggest source of American farm imports, shipping tomatoes, fresh berries and other vegetables.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said the countries will likely work to resolve the dispute before the duty begins.
“The quantity of tomatoes that we export to the US can’t be substituted,” Sheinbaum said to reporters. “This process has happened many times, and Mexico always comes out winning. But if this sanction is applied, Mexican tomatoes will still be exported to the US, because there’s no substitute.”
In recent years, the US, known for being a global agriculture powerhouse, has increased its purchases of food imports. The value of those imports now exceed exports of crops like corn, soybeans and wheat. Inbound shipments of everything from avocados to coffee and sugar are expected to drive the country’s agriculture trade deficit to a record $49 billion this year, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Data from the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group, known as GCMA, showed that 1.88 million tons of tomatoes were exported from Mexico in 2024, and 1.91 million tons were forecast to be exported in 2025. Last year, the US accounted for 98% of Mexico’s tomato exports, with the small remaining amount going to Canada, according to the group’s analysis based on government statistics.
The accusation by US producers that Mexican growers were selling tomatoes at artificially reduced prices is unfounded and it’s important that the two countries reach an agreement, Mexico’s Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegue said at a press briefing on Tuesday. He warned that tomato prices in the US would increase for consumers if talks failed, estimating that six out of 10 tomatoes consumed in the US are from Mexico.
“Their tomatoes are going to be more expensive — their salads, their ketchup and everything else,” Berdegue said. “We’re always looking for dialogue, so let’s see how this ends up.”
