Reps. Andy Biggs, Elijah Crane, Juan Ciscomani, and Tony Gonzales Urge Commerce Not to Cancel Tomato Suspension Agreement

Three Congressmen from Arizona, along with a Texas Congressman, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) on Wednesday urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick not to terminate the Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA). The DOC announced its intent to withdraw from the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico on April 14, 2025, with termination effective July 14, 2025. This will result in 20.91 percent tariffs on tomatoes from Mexico.

Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Elijah Crane (R-AZ-02), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), and Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) warned that up to 50,000 jobs will be lost in Arizona and Texas if the TSA is terminated. Critics contended that Mexico was dumping its tomatoes at rates lower than fair market price on the U.S. market, so should be required to pay the 20.91 percent tariff penalty for dumping.

The TSA began in 1996 and has been renegotiated every five years since then. It regulates Mexican tomato imports by setting reference prices to prevent dumping. This ensures stable prices by enforcing minimum reference prices, shielding consumers from volatility experienced in other commodities like eggs.

“The TSA has safeguarded tens of thousands of American jobs, stabilized markets, and strengthened our vital agriculture sector,” Biggs said in a press release. “Pulling the plug on the TSA would only hurt American families still struggling from the radical Biden-Harris regime’s inflationary policies. This is an opportunity for President Trump to do what he does best: Make a deal that benefits American businesses, workers, and consumers. I will continue to defend our hardworking farmers and fight for fair trade agreements in Congress.”

The letter said, “The TSA has never been about choosing between American and Mexican jobs. It is about ensuring American industries succeed through fair, enforceable trade deals.”

The Congressmen explained further, “President Trump’s leadership ensured that USMCA-compliant products, like fresh tomatoes, remained tariff exempt to support American jobs and keep groceries affordable. Imposing new duties of over 17% directly contradicts that vision. The Department’s own audits show the TSA works as there have been no violations, no price suppression, only stability and fairness.”

U.S. tomato growers had complained that the agreement wasn’t working, failing to stop Mexican tomato exporters from dumping underpriced tomatoes, which allowed their market share to increase.

However, after conducting an investigation in 2019 under the first Trump administration, the DOC decided to suspend the investigation. The DOC said, “The basis for the agreement was a commitment by each signatory producer/exporter to sell the subject merchandise at or above the reference price, which will eliminate completely the injurious effects of exports of fresh tomatoes to the United States.”

Texas’s Hidalgo County Commissioner Ellie Torres said if the TSA is terminated, the price of tomatoes would likely increase by 50 percent.

Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of the Texas International Produce Association, said the TSA has been an “absolute success,” citing a study from Texas A&M University which found that Mexican tomato imports generate $8.33 billion in economic activity in the U.S. annually. Galeazzi said the Mexican tomatoes are necessary since tomatoes can’t be grown year round in the U.S. due to the climate.

Mexico has not imposed retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. Instead, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has avoided tariffs through strategic concessions on border security measures and cooperation on fentanyl. The U.S. exported 38.9 million metric tons of agricultural products to Mexico worth $28.5 billion in 2022.

While Trump has championed tariffs against countries that don’t play fair, he has backed off on some of them where the need didn’t seem justified. For example, when Republicans including Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) objected to tariffs due to negative economic effects, such as recession and harm to American consumers and farmers, he announced a 90-day pause on most reciprocal tariffs except those on China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Lutnick also reportedly played a key role in getting Trump to pause the tariffs, concerned about stock market volatility.

Former DOGE leader Elon Musk has increasingly denounced tariffs. His businesses rely heavily on international supply chains affected by the tariffs. He posted a video on X in April featuring the late economist Milton Friedman criticizing tariffs.

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Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter / X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rep. Andy Biggs” by Andy Biggs; “Rep. Eli Crane” by Rep. Eli Crane; “Rep. Juan Ciscomani” by Rep. Juan Ciscomani; “Rep. Tony Gonzales” by Rep. Tony Gonzales.

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