US Imposes 17.09% Tariff on Mexican Tomatoes, Ends Anti-Dumping Agreement

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on July 14, 2025, that the Trump administration will terminate a longstanding agreement suspending an anti-dumping investigation into Mexican fresh tomatoes. As a result, the U.S. will impose a 17.09% tariff on most tomato imports from Mexico, effective immediately.

This decision follows President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a 30% tariff on goods imported from the European Union and Mexico, set to take effect on August 1, 2025. The move to exit the 1996 Tomato Suspension Agreement, last renewed in 2019, marks a significant shift in U.S. trade policy toward its southern neighbor. The agreement was designed to regulate Mexican tomato exports to ensure fair competition for U.S. producers.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that American farmers have long faced unfair trade practices that have suppressed prices for domestic tomatoes and other agricultural products. The new tariff aims to address the extent to which Mexican tomatoes are sold in the U.S. below fair market value.

According to Reuters, Mexico exported $3.3 billion worth of tomatoes last year, with the vast majority destined for the U.S. market. The Commerce Department’s anti-dumping order will impose tariffs ranging from 17% to 20.9% on Mexican tomatoes, which experts predict could lead to a rapid 10% increase in U.S. tomato prices.

The termination of the 2019 suspension agreement follows Mexico’s expressed confidence in April 2025 that the agreement would be renewed. However, the U.S. decision to exit the pact reflects a broader push to protect domestic agricultural interests amid ongoing trade tensions.