Fresh or Chilled Tomatoes

Suspension agreements in the tomato antidumping case establish minimum reference prices that Mexican exporters must meet to avoid antidumping duties. When such an agreement is in effect, importers must ensure that invoice prices meet or exceed the reference price for the applicable tomato type; shipments priced below the reference level can trigger duty liability. Importers should track Commerce Department announcements, as these agreements are periodically renegotiated or terminated.

Fresh tomatoes generally require a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country's national plant protection organization, confirming freedom from regulated pests such as certain fruit flies and bacterial canker. APHIS may impose additional conditions depending on origin, and FDA's Produce Safety Rule requires that covered farms follow agricultural water, worker hygiene, and equipment sanitation standards. Importers should verify current APHIS import conditions for the specific origin before each shipping season.