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Mexico’s agri-food sector faces growing trade and sanitary pressures, from US antidumping measures on tomatoes and strawberries to rising Brazilian chicken imports and the New World screwworm outbreak. At the same time, Mexico is seeking to diversify agricultural trade with China, while strengthening domestic production, investment, food security and cross-border supply-chain resilience.
This is the Week in Agribusiness and Food!
United States Keeps Antidumping Duties on Mexican Tomatoes
The United States will maintain antidumping duties on fresh Mexican tomatoes after the USITC found insufficient changes in market conditions to justify revoking the order, preserving a major trade barrier for Mexico’s highly export-dependent tomato sector. Mexico supplied 88.3% of US tomato imports in 2025, while production and exports are projected to decline in 2026 amid reduced cultivation, adverse weather and peso appreciation. In response, the Mexican government is providing producer financing and market-stabilization measures to support production, food security and competitiveness.
US Issues Preliminary Antidumping Duties on Mexican Strawberries
The US Department of Commerce has preliminarily determined dumping margins of 3.37% to 5.28% on Mexican winter strawberries, requiring cash deposits from exporters while the investigation continues and potentially leading to permanent antidumping duties. The measure threatens a seasonal export market worth nearly US$933 million and could affect nearly 5,000 Mexican producers and 151,000 agricultural workers, particularly in Michoacan and Guanajuato. The dispute adds pressure to Mexico-US agricultural trade ahead of the USMCA review, increasing regulatory and financial uncertainty for North American fresh-produce supply chains.
Mexico Poultry Sector Hit by 118% Surge in Imports
A 118% increase in duty-free Brazilian boneless chicken breast imports between 2022 and 2025 is putting pressure on Mexico’s poultry industry, with producers reporting more than MX$27 billion in cumulative losses and reduced incentives for domestic production and employment. The National Poultry Farmers Union is urging the government to replace zero-tariff exemptions with tariff-rate quotas, arguing that current measures have not sufficiently lowered consumer prices while increasing competitive pressure on domestic producers. The decision could affect US$3.5 billion in planned poultry-sector investment, as well as feed suppliers, meat traders, distributors and rural employment.
Mexico, China Deepen Agri-Food Ties
Mexico and China are strengthening cooperation in agriculture and fisheries through initiatives focused on market access, food safety, technology, scientific exchange and sustainable production, creating potential opportunities for Mexican exports such as rice, sorghum, seafood and pork. China’s large agricultural and aquaculture markets could support greater diversification of Mexico’s agri-food exports, while joint research, packaging innovation and fisheries cooperation could improve competitiveness and sustainability. However, trade opportunities face regulatory and environmental challenges, including China’s preliminary countervailing duties on Mexican pecans and ongoing concerns in Mexico and Latin America over illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by Chinese fleets.
Sonora Activates Emergency Protocols Over Screwworm Case
The detection of New World screwworm in Sonora has prompted emergency animal-health protocols as the parasite continues its northward spread, raising risks for Mexico’s livestock industry and cross-border cattle trade. The United States has reported cases in Texas and New Mexico, while Mexico and the US are expanding sterile insect technique capacity toward a regional target of 500 million sterile flies per week to contain the outbreak. The situation continues to affect cattle ranchers, processors and veterinary authorities, with bilateral officials evaluating conditions for a gradual reopening of live livestock trade under sanitary controls.
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