17 Percent Tariff Imposed by Trump on Mexican Tomatoes | Escalating Trade War Tensions

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced on Monday that American farmers have been greatly affected by unfair trade practices, specifically mentioning that Mexican imports of fresh tomatoes have been sold for artificially low prices. The Trump administration has decided to impose a 17 percent tariff on Mexican tomatoes, thereby terminating a three-decade-old agreement that previously exempted tomatoes from anti-dumping duties. This decision came as Mexico was faced with a deadline to negotiate an all-encompassing trade deal with the US by August 1 or face a 30 percent tariff on all its goods. Lutnick stated that this action aligns with President Trump’s trade policies and approach towards Mexico. Mexico’s economy and agriculture ministries have expressed their disappointment with this decision, claiming that the tariffs are unjust and damaging to both Mexican and American tomato industries, while emphasizing that the quality of Mexican tomatoes, not unfair practices, is responsible for their success in the US market.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/7/15/trump-slaps-17-percent-tariff-on-tomatoes-from-mexico?traffic_source=rss