Mexico pushes back on US ruling on strawberry dumping

MEXICO CITY, Aug 19 (Reuters) - The Mexican government voiced its "serious concern" following a preliminary ruling by the U.S. Department of Commerce that determined strawberry exports from Mexico were being dumped in the U.S. market during the winter season. On Tuesday night, the Mexican Ministry of Economy announced that the Commerce Department had found Mexico to be selling strawberries at a price ranging between 3.37% and 5.28% below the normal value, with an average dumping margin of 4.83%.

The dispute began on December 31, 2025, when producers from Florida filed a petition with Commerce and the International Trade Commission, requesting the imposition of antidumping duties. This move could have significant implications, potentially affecting approximately 5,000 Mexican strawberry growers, who constitute 97% of the sector, with farms averaging up to 10 hectares (25 acres) in size.

Additionally, the ruling could impact around 151,000 jobs directly tied to strawberry cultivation in Mexico. In 2025, Mexico exported 263,000 metric tons of strawberries to the U.S., generating a total revenue of $1 billion. In response to the ruling, Mexico declared its intention to closely monitor the proceedings alongside its domestic producers and exporters until the International Trade Commission's final decision, which is anticipated in early 2027.

The Mexican government argued that the Commerce Department's criteria utilized in this case were inconsistent with the World Trade Organization's Anti-Dumping Agreement and the provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.