In a surprising twist, US President Donald Trump has decided to slap a 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes. According to Bloomberg, citing the US Department of Commerce, the decision follows the recent termination of a trade agreement that had previously governed tomato imports between the two countries.
Though the move lowers the initially proposed 21% tariff hinted at in April, it still marks a significant escalation in US–Mexico trade tensions. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick justified the action by stating, “Mexico remains one of our greatest allies, but for far too long our farmers have been crushed by unfair trade practices that undercut pricing on produce like tomatoes. That ends today.”
Mexico, however, responded sharply. In a joint statement, the country’s agriculture and economy ministries condemned the decision as politicized and unjust, arguing that Mexico’s dominance in the tomato market is due to quality, not manipulation. Mexican producers added that their tomatoes are currently irreplaceable in the US supply chain, fulfilling nearly two-thirds of domestic demand.
The tomato tariffs come on the heels of Trump’s broader trade offensive: starting August 1, the US plans to impose 30% duties on imports from both the European Union and Mexico. Trump has also warned that if either region retaliates with its own tariffs, the US will match them dollar for dollar.
