The Commission for the Investigation and Defense of Sinaloa Vegetables (IACHR) warned that the US Government was considering reopening the anti-dumping investigation of fresh Mexican tomato at the request of the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE), whose member companies produce more than 90% of the tomatoes grown in Florida. According to the FTE, the investigation should be reopened because the Mexican tomato industry intends to challenge the new agreement reached between both countries.
The investigation had been suspended after the signing of a new suspension agreement on September 19, in which Mexican producers accepted the conditions imposed by their counterparts in the US, such as new reference prices and quality inspection of tomato shipments.
According to the FTE, US commercial law allows them to request the continuation of the anti-dumping investigation against Mexican tomato without ending the new suspension agreement.
The Mexican tomato farmers rejected the accusations of the FTE and stated that they were committed to complying with the new pact.
Representatives of Mexican producers, headed by the Confederation of Agricultural Associations of the State of Sinaloa (CAADES), have been summoned to a public hearing next week in Washington by the International Trade Commission (ITC).
"We don't have, nor have we had, the legal or political intention to challenge the new agreement in court or renegotiate it," said Mario Robles, director of the IACHR-CAADES.
Source: mibolsillo.com