Jan 6, 2026
Trade petitions filed over Mexican winter strawberry imports
Strawberry Growers for Fair Trade (SGFT) has filed petitions to counter unfairly low-priced imports that are harming the U.S. winter strawberry industry, which is primarily grown in Florida. The petitions claim that Mexican producers are dumping winter strawberries in the United States, distorting the market and injuring American growers.
SGFT submitted the petitions to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) following significant volumes of low-priced Mexican imports, according to a PR Newswire release.
“Mexico’s use of unfair pricing is harming American companies and workers,” said Daniel Pickard, lead counsel for SGFT and International Trade and National Security practice group leader at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. “The domestic industry is committed to opposing these unfair trade practices and ensuring that American agriculture can compete on a level playing field.”
What happens next?
The Department of Commerce will decide whether to open investigations within 20 days of the filing (or within 40 days if extended). Meanwhile, the ITC will issue a preliminary determination on material injury or threat of injury within 45 days. The full investigative process is expected to take roughly a year, with final determinations on dumping and injury likely near the end of 2026. Duties may be applied to imports once preliminary determinations are made.
The investigation covers all fresh and chilled strawberries imported from Mexico or sold in the U.S. between November 1 and March 31.
Why file the petition now?
The petitions highlight ongoing concerns among U.S. produce sectors, particularly in Florida, about the effects of low-priced Mexican imports on domestic agriculture.
The U.S. Trade Representative has flagged the impact of Mexican seasonal produce as a priority issue to address during the Joint Review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). In the meantime, this antidumping investigation aims to protect U.S. growers from the effects of an influx of low-priced imports.
