Mexican Tomato Producers Back New Federal Export Price Policy

A coalition of Mexico's leading fresh tomato producer and exporter associations publicly thanked the government for implementing a new minimum export price system. Tomato producer associations consider the move to provide support to the sector after the United States unilaterally terminated the Tomato Suspension Agreement on July 14, 2025.

The group includes organizations such as the Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture (AMHPAC) and the Confederation of Agricultural Associations of the State of Sinaloa (CAADES), Sistema Producto Tomate (SPT), and the Agricultural Council of Baja California (CABC). These organizations consider the federal government’s move to be a valuable action to protect the industry.

The associations praised President Claudia Sheinbaum and top officials, including Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard and Minister of Agriculture Julio Berdegué. They noted the new policy will protect over 400,000 agricultural jobs and an industry that generates more than US$3.1 billion per year.

The government's new minimum price scheme was created in response to the US Department of Commerce's (DoC) unilateral termination of the Tomato Suspension Agreement on July 14, 2025. Following the termination, a 17.09% ad-valorem compensatory duty was imposed on all Mexican tomato exports to the United States. "With the termination of the Suspension Agreement, the Reference Prices determined by DoC, which had remained static and unmodified since 2013, despite the inflationary impacts that have occurred in Mexico and the United States over the last 12 years, also come to an end,” reads the letter.

According to the producer groups, the new government-mandated minimum prices are designed to prevent unfair trade practices and ensure fair competition with US domestic production. They argue the measure is fundamental to the industry's survival, as without a price control mechanism, the current 17.09% US duty could be substantially increased in future administrative reviews.

What Are the Federal Government’s Minimum Export Prices? 

The Ministry of Economy (SE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) published an official agreement in the Federal Official Gazette (DOF) that establishes minimum export prices for different varieties of fresh Mexican tomatoes. The measure, which took effect on Aug. 8, 2025, aims to protect the national industry and maintain order in the export market.

The agreement sets the minimum price for Roma (saladette) tomatoes at US$0.88/kg and for standard round (bola) tomatoes at US$0.95/kg. Other varieties, including Cherry, Grape, and specialty tomatoes like Campari and Kumato, have a minimum export price of US$1.70/kg. The government clarified that the policy applies only to definitive exports, does not restrict volumes, and the prices will be reviewed annually or sooner if market conditions change. 

"Ministers Ebrard and Berdegué thank the collaborative work between the producers and exporters of Mexican tomatoes, who were present in all the working groups that were carried out until this agreement was finalized,” reads SE-SADER’s press release.