House Democrats Asking for Tomato Suspension Agreement to Return
House Democrats from Texas are asking Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse his decision to end the tomato suspension agreement with Mexico.
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In a letter last week, led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, the representatives said a 17.09% antidumping duty on Mexican tomatoes will lead to higher prices for consumers, and will hurt U.S. trucking, warehousing, and wholesale and retail jobs.
"For nearly three decades, the [agreement] has underpinned a framework that supported tens of thousands of American jobs -- especially in Texas -- ensured fair pricing, and upheld minimum quality standards for consumers," the dozen representatives wrote. "Despite bipartisan appeals from federal and state officials," including Gov. Greg Abbott (R), and "a near-unanimous resolution by the Texas legislature urging you to preserve the [agreement], your decision has instead placed disproportionate weight on the interests of one state over the well-being of consumers and businesses across the country," they wrote.
The policy shift "is particularly perplexing given the [agreement's] strong record of enforcement and effectiveness," the letter said.
The Commerce Department and USDA "rigorously administered the agreement, issuing over 320 audit questionnaires, reviewing 14,000 certifications, and conducting detailed administrative reviews. USDA inspections since April 2020 had a 99.3% pass rate. As recently as December 2024, Commerce found no evidence of dumping or price suppression by Mexican growers," the letter said.