A bipartisan coalition of Florida lawmakers, led by Congressman Vern Buchanan and Senator Ashley Moody, is calling on the Trump administration to impose strict new trade protections to save the state’s collapsing produce industry.
In a letter sent Thursday to President Donald Trump, 14 members of Congress urged the administration to use the upcoming United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Joint Review to implement seasonal, product-specific tariff-rate quotas. The move is designed to curb a massive influx of low-priced Mexican fruits and vegetables that lawmakers say is “squeezing out” American growers.
The data behind the request highlights a stark shift in the agricultural landscape. According to a 2025 report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida’s market share in the produce sector has plummeted by nearly 50% over the last twenty years. During that same window, Mexico’s share has surged by more than 200%.
Specific crops have been hit particularly hard. Between 2004 and 2024, Florida’s market share for bell peppers dropped by 73.4%, while tomatoes fell by 54.4% and cucumbers by 74.3%. Lawmakers estimate these losses have cost the state 14,000 jobs and up to $1.14 billion in annual economic damage.
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“Florida’s farmers are being squeezed out of their own market by a flood of low-priced imports from Mexico,” Buchanan said. “The administration has an opportunity during the USMCA review to restore balance and stand up for Florida growers by implementing targeted tariff-rate quotas that ensure our farmers can compete on a level playing field.”
Senator Moody echoed these concerns, stating that Mexico has long taken advantage of trade agreements to the detriment of local agriculture. “That’s why I’m co-leading an effort to ensure U.S. trade policies support American agriculture, protect Florida farms and keep our state growing,” she said.
The proposed tariff-rate quotas would act as a safety valve, allowing trade to continue while preventing sudden import surges during Florida’s peak harvest months. Supporters argue this is not just a matter of local economics, but of national food security.
Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, endorsed the move, warning that without these safeguards, the nation risks undermining its own food supply. “Florida growers urgently need the Administration to establish seasonal, product-specific tariff rate quotas to effectively limit imports,” Joyner said.
The letter was signed by a broad group of Florida representatives, including Darren Soto, the lone Democrat in the group, alongside Republicans Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Kat Cammack, Mario Diaz-Balart, Neal Dunn, Scott Franklin, Carlos Gimenez, Mike Haridopolos, Laurel Lee, John Rutherford, and Daniel Webster.
The lawmakers are now looking toward the USMCA Joint Review process as the critical window to negotiate these changes and stabilize the domestic market.
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