Cámaras de Comercio piden reconsiderar retiro del Acuerdo de Suspensión del Tomate

Organizaciones de productores mexicanas y de la industria estadounidense han instado al Departamento de Comercio de los Estados Unidos a reconsiderar su plan de retirarse del Acuerdo de Suspensión del Tomate con México de 2019, cuya entrada en vigor está prevista para hoy (14 de julio).

Las organizaciones argumentan que la rescisión del acuerdo podría interrumpir la cadena de suministro de tomate estadounidense y afectar negativamente a la economía en general.

En una carta dirigida al secretario de Comercio, Howard Lutnick, las organizaciones norteamericanas destacaron que el tomate es la segunda hortaliza más consumida en Estados Unidos, con más de 2 millones de toneladas métricas importadas anualmente desde México. Esto representa aproximadamente el 90 % del suministro comercial de tomate.

La carta indica que la finalización del acuerdo podría tener repercusiones significativas en múltiples sectores, como la agricultura, la logística, el comercio minorista y los servicios de alimentación. Las organizaciones estimaron que la importación y venta de tomates mexicanos aporta aproximadamente 8,300 millones de dólares a la economía estadounidense y sustenta casi 50,000 empleos.

También destacaron que, durante casi 30 años, los acuerdos de suspensión han proporcionado estabilidad y se actualizan periódicamente para reflejar las condiciones del mercado. La carta advierte que la retirada en este momento, en medio de la persistente incertidumbre comercial, podría provocar represalias por parte de los socios comerciales, lo que complicaría aún más el comercio y las cadenas de suministro de Estados Unidos.

Esta es una copia de la carta enviada al Departamento de Comercio de los Estados Unidos:

The Honorable Howard Lutnick

Secretary of Commerce

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20230

Dear Mr. Secretary:

The undersigned organizations write regarding the U.S. Department of Commerce’s intent to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico (the “Agreement”). This decision could create challenges for the U.S. economy, and we therefore urge you to pause this decision to allow time to negotiate a new agreement.

Tomatoes are a vital staple in the American diet. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, tomatoes are the second most consumed vegetable in the United States. While the U.S. produces a significant amount on its own, U.S. growers and distributors must import over 2 million metric tons annually —about 90% of which comes from Mexico—to meet domestic demand. Mexico is a key producer of specialty tomatoes like Roma and vine-ripened varieties, which can be difficult to produce domestically in commercial quantities.

Terminating the Agreement would likely have widespread repercussions on the U.S. economy, affecting agriculture, warehousing, logistics, grocery, and restaurant industries. Nationwide, the import and sale of Mexican tomatoes generate an estimated $8.3 billion in economic benefits, including $4.69 billion in indirect and induced effects. U.S.-owned companies employ nearly 50,000 workers in jobs directly and indirectly supporting the movement of tomatoes from Mexico into communities across the country.

For nearly 30 years, the suspension agreements have provided stability and certainty for growers and consumers on both sides of the border. These agreements are regularly updated to account for changing market conditions and to protect the interests of U.S. producers, businesses, and consumers — and there is no reason Commerce cannot update the Agreement rather than terminate it. But we are concerned that withdrawing from the Agreement – at a time when the business community is already navigating significant trade uncertainty – could lead to retaliatory actions by our trading partners against other commodities and crops that could create further hardship for U.S. businesses and consumers. 

Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference

American Association of Port Authorities

Arizona-Mexico Commission

Border Trade Alliance

Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce

Corn Refiners Association

Del Rio Chamber of Commerce

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas

Graham County Chamber of Commerce

Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce

Greater Phoenix Chamber

Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce

Laredo Chamber of Commerce

Meat Institute

National Council of Chain Restaurants

National Pork Producers

National Restaurant Association

National Retail Federation

Nogales Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce

Northern Brazoria County Chamber of Commerce

Retail Industry Leaders Association

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

Sky Islands Regional Partnership

Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Texas Association of Business

Texas International Produce Association

The Chamber of Southern Arizona

Trinity Valley Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce