WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema led members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation in urging the U.S. Trade Representative to support open cross-border trade between the United States and Mexico, and consider the broad economic impacts of implementing a new seasonal trade restriction on tomatoes imported from Mexico to Arizona.
“Cross-border trade supports Arizona jobs and lowers food prices for Arizonans working to feed their families during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Sinema.
Sinema’s bipartisan letter stresses that a seasonal trade restriction would reduce a critical supply of imported tomatoes, resulting in higher prices, while reducing availability, selection, and quality for Arizona consumers. Implementing a seasonal trade restriction would be particularly harmful as Arizona and the nation combat the COVID-19 crisis while millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table.
Sinema was joined on the letter by Senator Martha McSally, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-1), Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06), Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), and Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-09).
Click HERE to read the full letter.
Sinema is a strong advocate for free, fair, and reciprocal trade between the United States and Mexico. In April, Sinema led members of the bipartisan Arizona Congressional delegation in questioning how the U.S. Department of Agriculture is protecting agriculture inspectors, Arizonans’ transporting of tomatoes, and Arizona communities.
Sinema, a strong supporter of the USMCA trade agreement, urged the International Trade Commission to allow Arizona’s tomato trade with Mexico to continue without unnecessary restrictions. Arizona’s tomato trade with Mexico supports 33,000 American jobs and is critical for Arizona’s economy.
Last year, the Fresh Produce Association thanked Sinema for her efforts ensuring the renegotiation of the Tomato Suspension Agreement to protect Arizona farmers, jobs, and cross-border trade. The agreement brought an end to harmful tariffs on tomatoes that hurt Arizona farmers, businesses, and consumers.
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