Rep. Cammack leads charge in Commerce’s withdrawal from 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement
Press release from U.S. Representative Kat Cammack
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — This morning, Congresswoman Kat Cammack issued the following statement about the U.S. Department of Commerce’s announcement of its intent to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, with termination effective in 90 days.
“This has been a priority of ours for years in Florida,” said Rep. Kat Cammack. “For half a decade now, our producers have been subject to an unfair marketplace. In the past five years alone, Mexican tomato producers have violated the suspension agreement over 100 times. The economic impact of these violations has been catastrophic on our domestic tomato producers.”
“I’ve long been a champion of free but fair trade. Since the beginning of 2000, we have dropped from 250 producers to just 25. I’m grateful the Trump administration is working so hard to enforce international U.S. trade laws, and I know our tomato producers in Florida will be relieved to once more have a level playing field. As the only Florida Member on the House Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to work on behalf of our farmers, ranchers, and producers to deliver the support they deserve and keep their industry alive. Food security is national security, which is why ensuring our producers are protected from unfair trade practices is critical,” Rep. Cammack added.
The Department of Commerce currently maintains 734 antidumping and countervailing duty orders that provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade. These duty orders provide American workers with a mechanism to seek relief from harmful unfair pricing of imports.
“A great injustice to our Florida tomato producers has finally been addressed,” said Jeb Smith, President of the Florida Farm Bureau. “Thank you to Congresswoman Cammack for heeding the pleas of our growers and leading the charge. Many thanks to Secretary Lutnick, Secretary Rollins, and others in this administration for acting. For decades, our farmers have simply sought strict enforcement of U.S. trade law, including the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement. At last, we are witnessing such. With the institution of the antidumping duty order resulting in duties of 20.91 percent on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico, fair trade could be attainable. It is an exciting day for tomato growers in the Sunshine State and the broader produce industry!”
“For decades, unfair foreign trade practices have taken their toll on U.S. growers of fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. “The termination of the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement is a positive step toward helping tomato growers compete on a level playing field and ensure American consumers are not forced to rely on foreign sources for fresh fruits and vegetables. We sincerely appreciate the support and efforts of this administration and Congresswoman Cammack for effectively implementing U.S. trade laws and protecting domestic tomato growers.”
I do NOT want my food coming from Mexico, India, Asia, China, Canada, or any other country. I am so sick of seeing everything “made in china”. It is all junk. Poor quality junk.
Better start your garden. And your coffee or tea plantation. And growing rice, wheat, etc. Good luck.
We export rice and wheat, doofus. As for coffee and tea, they’re limited by the weather where they come from. Tomatoes, too.
Our education system does such a poor job of training folks in basic science. The coffee plant like elevations over 2000 feet but does not tolerate freezing. Hawaii and Jamaca grow a little coffee, but Florida and most of the USA can never. Two countries that are large enough with suitable farms supply most of our coffee, Brazil and Vietnam.
Side note: Years ago I really hated the marketers who came up with saying their brand was better because it was “mountain grown.” Well yes a true statement, but also a marketing lie because ALL coffee is mountain grown because coffee only grows in the mountains. Duh.
how much mcdonalds do you eat on a daily basis?
Tomato Suspension Agreement sounds like an interesting study in physics!
Kat doesn’t look like someone who knows much about fruits and vegetables.
Kat is so cutting edge. Really focuses on REALLY important policies. 🙄
leads the charge to sell us out to the rich is more like it, worthless scum
I take serious objection to the headline of this story. “Cammack leads charge.” Implies she can run.
I would not object to a true statement like “Phat rolls in front.”
Why doesn’t she hold a town hall where people can talk to her about it?
Food prices are going up as it is, and now Cammack wants to make tomatoes more expensive so that a few rich donors can make a pile money. Worse yet, tomatoes in Florida are all picked green as gourds and then gassed with some hormone.