Agricultural organizations support Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s decision to terminate the agreement following a ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which confirmed that Mexican exporters were engaging in dumping.
The U.S. International Trade Commission also found these practices harmed U.S. farmers.
State farm bureaus, including New Jersey’s Allen Carter, oppose any renegotiation of the TSA. Carter emphasized that past attempts have failed and only worsened the damage to domestic growers.
Greg Bird, from the Michigan Vegetable Council, added that ending the TSA will not block imports, but will ensure fair pricing: “Termination will not stop Mexican tomatoes from entering the U.S. They will just need to be sold at fair prices.”
Leaders also warned of broader risks. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson wrote, “If we lose our domestic fruit and vegetable producers, we lose more than an industry—we lose control over our food system. A nation that cannot feed itself is a nation that cannot defend itself.”
The Florida Tomato Exchange, whose members grow over 90% of Florida’s tomatoes, continues to play a key role in supporting U.S. tomato growers and advocating for fair trade practices.