US Seeking Border Inspections of All Mexican Tomatoes in AD Suspension Talks, Negotiator Says

The U.S. is pushing for border inspections of all tomatoes imported from Mexico in negotiations over a new antidumping duty suspension agreement, according to tweets from Mexico’s chief trade negotiator for North America, Jesus Seade. Despite concessions offered by Mexican tomato growers, that could threaten to derail negotiations that seek to avoid the imposition of antidumping duties on tomatoes from Mexico that were first put on hold in 1994.

The provision would also cause a collapse of logistical and customs procedures on the U.S.-Mexico border, Seade said. It would result in more than 120,000 trucks being held up at the border annually, despite the fact that only 0.32% of Mexican tomato imports were rejected in 2018. ”The measure does not have any function or phytosanitary motivation,” Seade said. It would “constitute a clear technical obstacle to trade,” and would “severely affect value chains in both countries,” he said.

If the proposal is withdrawn, a new agreement is at hand that would benefit both producers and consumers of tomatoes in both countries, Seade said. But for now, the proposal represents an “impassable obstacle” in U.S.-Mexico tomato talks, he said. Commerce declined to comment.