
Prepare for more California and Florida tomatoes after a 17 % tariff for fresh products in Mexico
Trump administration decision to impose a 17 % is a duty of fresh tomatoes Imported from Mexico He created a dilemma for the country that provides more tomatoes than consumers than anything else.
The import tax, which started on July 14, is just a protectionist step by an administration that threatened dozens of countries with definitions, including its decisive commercial partner in Mexico. It comes at a time when the Mexican government is also trying to negotiate out of A. 30 % general tariff It is scheduled to enter into force on August 1.
While the effects of tomato tariffs are still in its cradle, one of the main farmers and exporters in the center of Mexico shows how a tariff that targets one product can destabilize the sector.
Stay in times of uncertainty
Green tomato plants extend to climbing after a row in high -tech greenhouses that cover nearly six acres in the central state of Quiritaro, among the top 10 tomato production cases in Mexico.
Climate and pest -free, and greenhouse data in Ajuchitlan send about 100 tons of fresh tomatoes every week to Mastronardi products. The Canadian company is the main distributor of fresh tomatoes in the United States with customers who include Costeco and Wal Mart.
“They are exporting tomatoes to the United States for 13 years, and its large and costly investments to produce tomatoes will not allow them to make any immediate changes. It is also binding on a contract to sell everything they produce to Mastronardi until 2026.
“None of us (producers) cannot tolerate,” said ATRI. “We have to deal with our customer to control prices because we are not near this type of profit.”
In the first week of the tariff, Veggie Prime ate the entire charge. In the second, its share of the new cost decreased when its customer agreed to increase the price of tomatoes by 10 %. 56 -year -old Atri hopes that Mastronardi ultimately passes all the cost of the customs tariff for its retail customers.
Mexican tomato exports brought 3 billion dollars last year
Experts say the customs tariff can cause a decrease from 5 % to 10 % in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than $ 3 billion for Mexico.
The Mexican Association of Tomato Producers says the industry generates about 500,000 jobs.
Juan Carlos Anaya, general manager of the Grupo de Mercados AGRÃCOLAS, said that a decrease in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than two billion tons, could lead to the loss of about 200,000 jobs.
Experts: The United States will have difficulty replacing fresh Mexican tomatoes
When the Trump administration announced the customs tariff, the Ministry of Commerce justified this as a measure to protect American producers from artificial cheap imports.
California and Florida farmers who produce about 11 million tons will benefit from benefit, although most of this production is dedicated to manufactured tomatoes. Experts believe that the United States will find it difficult to replace fresh tomato imports in Mexico.
Atri and other producers are waiting for a scheduled review of this measure within two months, when the United States goes to the fall and the production of fresh tomatoes begins to decrease.
In response to the tariff, the Mexican government presented the idea of searching for other more stable international markets.
Mexican Minister of Agriculture Julio Berdygoy said on Thursday that the government is looking into capabilities such as Japan, but the producers quickly cast a doubt about this idea, noting that the tomatoes should be sent by the plane, which raises the cost more.
ATRI said that the company started trying pepper, to see if it will provide a wide option.
President Claudia Shinbom She recently said that her administration will survey tomato farmers to know the support they need, especially young producers who already feel the effects of a decrease of more than 10 % in the price of tomatoes locally on fears will be an abundance in Mexico.
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