“A Major Win for Florida’s Tomato Growers and American Agriculture”
WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and member of the Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Trump administration and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced the termination of the 2019 U.S.-Mexico Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico:
“Today’s official termination of the failed Tomato Suspension Agreement is a major win for Florida’s tomato growers and American agriculture. For too long, the Biden administration ignored our calls to end unfair Mexican trade practices. I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Lutnick for their strong leadership to support American farmers.
“Now, we’re putting American farmers first. I recently led a letter with Senator Rick Scott and 17 colleagues urging the Department to support Florida’s tomato growers by enforcing America’s antidumping laws after decades of unfair Mexican trade practices, and I’m grateful that the Department delivered.”
Buchanan recently led a letter with Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and 17 colleagues applauding the Commerce Department’s initial decision to terminate the agreement. Buchanan has championed policies that support Florida’s fruit and vegetable industries and is a long-standing advocate for fair trade. He previously introduced the Defending Domestic Produce Protection Act to help Florida fruit and vegetable growers combat illegal seasonal dumping and Mexico’s unfair trade practices.
