U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently led a bipartisan contingent of Arizona congressional members in requesting that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) consider the broad impacts of a new seasonal trade remedy on Mexican tomato imports being implemented under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“This trade remedy would affect Arizona’s economy, the U.S. agribusiness supply chain, and consumers all across the country who enjoy a diverse selection of tomatoes at low prices,” Sen. McSally and her colleagues wrote in an Aug. 12 letter sent to USTR Robert Lighthizer. “As senators who support free, fair and reciprocal trade between the United States and its trading partners around the globe, we strongly oppose any new agriculture seasonality provision targeting Mexican tomato imports.”
A “seasonality” provision, whereby certain Mexican tomatoes could be subjected to additional dumping duties at various times throughout the year, would run counter to consumer preferences, undermine the spirit and benefits of free trade, risk reciprocal or retaliatory actions from U.S. trade partners, and harm American industries in order to artificially support the interests of a small segment of regional growers, according to the letter, which also was signed by U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“A seasonal trade remedy,” they wrote, “would choke off a critical supply of imported tomatoes, resulting in higher prices for U.S. consumers while reducing availability, selection and quality in supermarket aisles. This would be particularly harmful at a time when our nation continues to combat the COVID-19 crisis and when millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table.”
Sen. McSally and her Arizona colleagues encouraged the administration to consider such positions during the USTR’s August hearings on the implementation of provisions in the USMCA.