WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and member of the Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Commerce announced it is suspending the 2019 U.S.-Mexico Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico:
“Terminating the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement is a long-overdue victory for Florida’s tomato growers and the broader U.S. produce industry,” said Rep. Buchanan. “For too long, unfair Mexican trade practices and illegal dumping have decimated American farms and tilted the playing field against our hardworking growers. This decision finally opens the door to strong, enforceable trade remedies that will protect American jobs, strengthen our rural economy and ensure our farmers can compete and thrive.”
Buchanan has championed policies that support Florida’s fruit and vegetable industries and is a long-standing advocate for fair trade. He previously signed two letters to former Biden administration U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Raimondo urging the department to terminate the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement and defend the American tomato industry. Buchanan also 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.
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