Florida Tomato Exchange says TSA ‘failed in its basic purpose’ of ensuring fair trade

The Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) has openly supported the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to end the Mexican Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA), saying it will “finally level the playing field” for American growers. 

FTE Executive Vice President Robert Guenther emphasized the importance of ending trade practices he describes as “dumping” Mexican tomatoes below cost, which has harmed U.S. agriculture. 

“Findings from comprehensive U.S. government investigations, including a 2019 ruling from the Department of Commerce, a unanimous decision from the International Trade Commission in 2019, found that these practices caused material injury to American growers, and a ruling by the Court of International Trade in 2025 affirmed that imported Mexican tomatoes are being dumped,” he told FreshFruitPortal.com. 

“The 2019 Suspension Agreement and the previous four suspension agreements were supposed to prevent dumping. They failed in their basic purposes—to ensure fair trade as required by U.S. law.”

Guenther, who acts as Marketing Order Manager for the Florida Tomato Committee, highlighted that five suspension agreements over 28 years failed to prevent “unfair trade practices”, allowing Mexican growers’ market share to grow from 20% to over 70%. 

These practices, he said, have led to the loss of many American family farms since the TSA’s approval in 1996, with some Florida operations shutting down or selling land.

“Just this growing season, a Florida farm consolidated its operations and sold off prime tomato production land for development, while another is going out of business and is in the process of selling off its family equipment. This is not theory, this is reality,” he stated.

From Guenther’s perspective, TSA termination will not hinder Mexican exports but rather ensure that “tomatoes are fairly priced as required by U.S. law” and help maintain supply chain stability while supporting domestic production. 

“For decades, Mexican exporters have dumped tomatoes into the U.S. market below their cost of production, by margins as high as 273%, which injured American tomato farmers,” he stressed.

Looking ahead, Guenther said that the FTE expects market conditions and the supply chain to remain steady while “giving American producers a chance to compete fairly.”

“Long-term success means a revitalized domestic industry that can innovate and grow without the constant threat of dumped imported products on the market, allowing U.S. growers to survive in their communities and country, putting American agriculture first,” he said.

The Department of Commerce is expected to announce the termination on July 14.

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