News

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL), along with U.S. Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Al Lawson (D-FL), re-introduced legislation to help Florida fruit and vegetable growers combat unfair trade practices by countries like Mexico. Specifically, the Defending Domestic Produce Production Act would ensure that U.S. trade law is applicable to seasonal fruit and vegetable growers to petition the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission in order to secure relief from unfair trade practices.  
 
Current law requires petitioners to demonstrate harm as measured from a nationwide and year-round perspective, which by definition precludes the recognition of regional and seasonal fruit and vegetable industries. The Defending Domestic Produce Production Act would fix this oversight in U.S. trade law, and acknowledge the unique circumstances of seasonal fruit and vegetable producers. Rubio first introduced this legislation in September 2018 with then-Senator Nelson (D-FL) and reintroduced it in January 2019, along with Scott, Buchanan, and Lawson. 
 
“We must ensure the viability of Florida’s fruit and vegetable growers, who for years have struggled to compete with dumped and unfairly priced Mexican imports,” Rubio said. “I firmly believe that food security is national security, and that to ensure our nation’s food security we must defend our food producers from malicious trade practices that are intended to undermine our self-reliance.”
 
“Florida’s seasonal produce growers work incredibly hard to succeed and support their families, but they’ve been faced with hardship amid the pandemic and unfair competition from Mexico,” Scott said. “This legislation will help defend and protect our hardworking domestic growers from the impacts of these unfair trade practices and support their continued success.”
 
“Illegal seasonal dumping and unfair Mexican trade practices are crippling Florida’s fruit and vegetable growers,” Buchanan said. “It’s time to level the playing field and protect hardworking Florida farmers. Our bill would do just that.”
 
“Mexico’s dumping into our nation’s agriculture market is a problem, and below-cost produce has put Florida’s farmers at a disadvantage,” Lawson said. “This issue is crippling our state’s agriculture industry and threatening its place as one of the top agricultural producers in the country. The Defending Domestic Produce Production Act will work to protect Florida’s farmers and make sure they have a fair chance in the marketplace.”
 
Background:

• May 5, 2021: Rubio, Colleagues Urge United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai to Safeguard American Seasonal Producers From Unfair Foreign Trade Practices
• February 11, 2021: Rubio Issues Statement on ITC Global Safeguard Investigation of Blueberry Imports 
• January 15, 2021: Rubio, Florida Republicans Urge Relief for Produce Growers From Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices 
• August 13, 2020: Rubio Delivers Defense of Florida’s Seasonal Growers at Virtual Hearing
• January 16, 2020: English/ Español: Rubio Statement on Senate Passage of USMCA
• September 29, 2019: Rubio: Today’s Suspension Agreement is a Significant Win for American Tomato Growers
• August 21, 2019: Rubio Applauds New Tomato Suspension Agreement 
• August 8, 2019: Rubio Looks Forward to Conclusion of Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico
• May 7, 2019: Rubio Applauds U.S. Commerce Department Withdrawal From Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico, Resumption of Antidumping Investigation
• May 7, 2019: ICYMI: Rubio stands with U.S. tomato growers in our battle against cheap Mexican imports
• April 4, 2019: Rubio, Colleagues Raise Concerns to Lighthizer Regarding Lack of Effective Trade Enforcement for Seasonal Produce in USMCA
• March 13, 2019: Rubio, Colleagues Fire Back in Defense of U.S. Farmers, Administration
• February 1, 2019: Rubio, Yoho Lead Colleagues in Urging Secretary Ross To Support U.S. Tomato Growers Suffering From Unfair Mexican Trade Practices
• February 7, 2019: Rubio, Yoho Applaud U.S. Commerce Department Decision to Withdraw From Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico
• January 3, 2019: Rubio, Buchanan Re-Introduce Bill To Combat Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices Hurting Florida Farmers
• September 26, 2018: Rubio, Nelson Introduce Bill to Combat Mexican Unfair Trade Practices Facing