California avocado industry pushes seasonal tariff-rate quota proposal
The California Avocado Commission has launched an advocacy campaign supporting a seasonal tariff-rate quota on Mexican avocado imports during California’s peak harvest season as federal officials review the USMCA trade agreement.
As the U.S. reviews the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the California Avocado Commission (CAC) is launching a new advocacy campaign advocating for seasonal tariff-rate quotas (TRQ) on Mexican avocado imports. The announcement was made in a July 2 press release from the commission.
According to the CAC, the proposal would apply from March through September, when California growers market most of their crop. Under the proposal, a specified volume of Mexican avocados could continue entering the U.S. duty-free during that period, while imports exceeding that volume would be subject to a higher tariff. The commission said the goal is to better align imports with domestic production while maintaining year-round availability for consumers.
The commission also released a new advocacy video featuring California avocado growers and representatives from agriculture and public policy.
The advocacy effort comes after U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that the United States will not renew USMCA in its current form, triggering a formal review of the agreement and new negotiations over its future.
California avocado growers have argued that increased import volumes during the state’s harvest season place downward pressure on prices and make it more difficult for domestic producers to compete.