News

Miami, FL — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a statement after the U.S Department of Commerce rejected a request by importers of Mexican tomatoes to exempt certain greenhouse-grown specialty tomatoes from the 2019 U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement, which provides critical relief to domestic tomato growers against unfair trade practices. Exempting specialty tomatoes grown in Mexico from the Tomato Suspension Agreement would have directly harmed Florida growers. On March 4, 2022, Rubio led bipartisan members of the Florida congressional delegation in urging Commerce to protect domestic growers by rejecting the request.
 
“This is a win for Florida tomato growers,” Rubio said. “Florida’s economy and our national food security depend on robust domestic fruit and vegetable production. We must do everything we can to protect Florida’s growers from unfair trade practices.”
 
“The Florida Tomato Exchange applauds the Commerce Department’s refusal to allow loopholes in the antidumping suspension agreement covering tomato imports from Mexico,” Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange Michael Schadler said. “The Commerce Department needs to follow up this decision with strong action to prevent cheating by Mexican exporters that undermines the suspension agreement.”
 
Related:

• March 4, 2022: Rubio Leads Bipartisan Members of Florida Delegation in Urging Commerce to Reject Effort to Undermine Trade Relief for Florida Tomato Growers
• January 13, 2022: Rubio Calls for Action After ITC Reports on Squash and Cucumber Imports
• September 10, 2021: Rubio Blasts White House for Ignoring Harm to American Fruit and Vegetable Growers
• May 5, 2021: Rubio, Colleagues Urge United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai to Safeguard American Seasonal Producers From Unfair Foreign Trade Practices
• January 15, 2021: Rubio, Florida Republicans Urge Relief for Produce Growers From Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices 

• August 13, 2020: Rubio Delivers Defense of Florida’s Seasonal Growers at Virtual Hearing

• September 19, 2019: Rubio: Today’s Suspension Agreement is a Significant Win for American Tomato Growers
• August 21, 2019: Rubio Applauds New Tomato Suspension Agreement 
• August 8, 2019: Rubio Looks Forward to Conclusion of Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico
• May 7, 2019: Rubio Applauds U.S. Commerce Department Withdrawal From Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico, Resumption of Antidumping Investigation
• May 7, 2019: ICYMI: Rubio stands with U.S. tomato growers in our battle against cheap Mexican imports
• March 13, 2019: Rubio, Colleagues Fire Back in Defense of U.S. Farmers, Administration
• February 1, 2019: Rubio, Yoho Lead Colleagues in Urging Secretary Ross To Support U.S. Tomato Growers Suffering From Unfair Mexican Trade Practices
• February 7, 2019: Rubio, Yoho Applaud U.S. Commerce Department Decision to Withdraw From Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico
• January 3, 2019: Rubio, Buchanan Re-Introduce Bill To Combat Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices Hurting Florida Farmers