Sader seeks to place domestic tomatoes in Japan

Julio Berdegué Sacristán, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, opened trade talks with Japan in an effort to place Mexican tomatoes in that country's market , following the end of the Fresh Tomato Suspension Agreement stemming from the U.S. government's antidumping investigation.

On social media, the minister posted that yesterday he spoke with the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Teresa Mercado, and Melba María Pría, Mexico's ambassador to Japan, to explore commercial opportunities for horticultural products in other countries.

Berdegué wrote on social media: “A good meeting with the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Teresa Mercado; the Mexican ambassador to Japan, Melba María Pría; her team; and Mexican tomato producers. We are looking for market options for tomatoes and other horticultural products to produce in the same regions of Mexico.”

On July 15, fresh tomatoes exported to the United States were imposed a compensatory fee of 17.09 percent.

In April, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its withdrawal from the 2019 Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico. As part of the agreement, Mexico was required to sell its tomatoes at a minimum price and comply with other rules.

The agreement was subject to periodic revisions, but both parties always reached an agreement that avoided tariffs. On this occasion, the pact expired without extension.

In response, the Mexican government called the measure unfair. In a joint statement, the Ministries of Economy and Agriculture stated that this decision would harm both Mexican producers and the U.S. agricultural chain.

The Universal

Pressure on price

• The general director of the Agricultural Market Consulting Group (GCMA), Juan Carlos Anaya, said that the tariff on tomatoes, which went into effect on July 14, could reduce Mexican tomato exports to the United States by 10% to 15%.
• It will impact exports of various commercial varieties such as cherry, grape, roma, greenhouse, and all others, sales that totaled $1.324 billion from January to May 2025.
• For tomato producers and exporters, this tariff could have an economic impact equivalent to $8.3 billion across the entire supply chain.

CT