CBP to Stop Imports of Tomatoes From Mexican Farm Under New WRO

CBP issued a withhold release order on “fresh tomatoes produced by the tomato farm Agropecuarios Tom S.A. de C.V., and Horticola S.A de C.V., and their subsidiaries." the agency said Oct. 21. The WRO is a result of "information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor against its workers," CBP said. Forced labor indicators found by CBP included "abuse of vulnerability, deception, withholding of wages, debt bondage, and abusive working and living conditions," it said.

"This WRO will only affect fresh tomato imports into the United States from this specific farm and its subsidiaries," CBP said. Mexico took unspecified action against the farm in October last year, "demonstrating the Mexican government’s shared commitment to protecting the human rights of workers," the agency said.

The WRO marks the first forced labor enforcement action involving Mexico under the statute since the U.S. issued two still-active findings in the 1950s on goods, mainly furniture, made at a Mexican prison, according to CBP's list of such actions. “The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement established a strong framework for CBP to work closely with our Mexican and Canadian counterparts,” said Troy Miller, CBP acting commissioner. “We trust that the foundations we’ve built with our Mexican partners will allow for a collaborative and multi-lateral response to forced labor enforcement actions within North American supply chains.” A CBP official recently said to expect more forced labor enforcement actions outside of Asia due to the additions of new staff within the investigations branch (see 2109290023).