On the 14th, the United States announced a tariff of approximately 17% on most Mexican-produced fresh tomatoes, effectively ending the previously agreed-upon trade agreement between the two countries.
A large agricultural product dealer in New York City stated that the US government’s tariff policy is unrealistic and has left them feeling uneasy about their business prospects.
Yajeh Tomato Company procurement officer, Xia Yi Yusef:
We handle about 300,000 pounds (approximately 136 tons) of tomatoes annually. We source from Texas, Canada, and across the United States, but the majority of our tomatoes come from Mexico, with 90% of our tomatoes coming from there. With the imposition of tariffs by the US government, we are somewhat uncertain about what the future holds.
During the announcement of the tariffs on Mexican tomatoes by the US Department of Commerce, Lutnick stated, “Unfair trade practices have resulted in too low prices for agricultural products like tomatoes, which have been a burden to American farmers for years.” However, Xia Yi Yusef believes that the current high labor costs in the US make it unrealistic for the US government to protect its industries through high tariffs.
Xia Yi Yusef, procurement officer at Yajeh Tomato Company:
The US cannot meet its domestic tomato demand, as it cannot produce enough tomatoes to supply itself. The idea of the US government is highly impractical; there simply aren’t enough people in the US to cultivate various tomato varieties. The labor costs here are too high, making it impossible to grow tomatoes in the US.
Trump’s tariff policies have impacted the global economy.