Arizona Senator Mark Kelly released the following statement after the Trump administration officially terminated the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement, triggering a 17% tariff on fresh tomato imports from Mexico:
“These tomato tariffs are a billion-dollar tax on Arizona working families. They will raise food prices, threaten the jobs of thousands of warehouse workers and truck drivers in our state, and squeeze small businesses already struggling to keep up with rising costs.
“We know that the administration has not found any violations and that terminating this agreement won’t solve the problems facing American growers. I’ve been pushing the administration to reverse course and keep this agreement in place, and I’ll keep fighting to protect Arizona families from the fallout of this reckless decision.”
Kelly has long opposed the termination of the Tomato Suspension Agreement when it was considered by presidents of both parties. In May, he led a bipartisan letter with Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego and Representatives David Schweikert and Greg Stanton urging the administration to keep the agreement in place. Earlier this year, he visited Nogales to hear directly from warehouse workers and small business owners about the impact these tariffs would have on jobs and food prices.
In defense of the termination, Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick said, “Mexico remains one of our greatest allies, but for too long our farmers have been crushed by unfair trade practices that undercut pricing on produce like tomatoes. This rule change is in line with President Trump’s trade policies which provide relief to American companies and workers impacted by unfair trade practices.”
