Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., re-introduced legislation Thursday to give producers of seasonal fruits and vegetables standing to seek trade remedy relief against Mexico through the imposition of antidumping or countervailing duties. The bill is meant to counter President Trump’s U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement on trade, which Congress has yet to take up for approval.
Rubio has criticized the deal’s potential impact on his state’s agricultural industry, particularly during winter months, arguing that Mexico gives its growers illegal subsidies. “Absent any effective agreement with the Mexican government covering seasonal and perishable produce imports, I’m proud to support this bill to increase opportunities for Florida growers to successfully seek relief from the illegal dumping of Mexican winter produce into our domestic markets,” he said.
The senator introduced the same legislation last session. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is sponsoring the House version.
It is unclear what reception the USMCA will get in Congress this year, many lawmakers having hedged on supporting or opposing it. However, some on the right, like Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., have said they would oppose it as too anti-free trade, while some on the left, like Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have said they would oppose it as too corporate-friendly. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi-D-Calif., has been noncommittal on backing the legislation.
