Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HCR108 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Guillen H.C.R. No. 108
2	2
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6	HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
7	7	WHEREAS, The State of Texas and Mexico have greatly benefited
8	8	from their strong economic relationship and long history of
9	9	bilateral trade; and
10	10	WHEREAS, Fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico contribute more
11	11	than $7.5 billion to the U.S. economy and support nearly 50,000
12	12	jobs; more than half of the imported tomatoes enter through ports in
13	13	Pharr and Laredo, with an estimated value of nearly $1.5 billion;
14	14	and
15	15	WHEREAS, The Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from
16	16	Mexico, or the Tomato Suspension Agreement, is the result of a
17	17	collaborative effort involving the U.S. Department of Commerce and
18	18	nearly 700 producers and exporters of fresh tomatoes grown in
19	19	Mexico; the agreement first became effective on November 1, 1996,
20	20	and its most recent update went into effect on September 19, 2019;
21	21	and
22	22	WHEREAS, Under the Tomato Suspension Agreement, signatory
23	23	producers and exporters must sell Mexican tomatoes at or above a
24	24	specific reference price to eliminate the injurious effects of
25	25	exports of fresh tomatoes to the United States; the agreement has
26	26	helped to bring stability to the tomato market while complying with
27	27	U.S. trade laws, and it has established strong enforcement and
28	28	monitoring mechanisms; in addition, the agreement ensures that U.S.
29	29	consumers have access to a wide selection of fresh tomatoes
30	30	year-round; and
31	31	WHEREAS, The termination of the Tomato Suspension Agreement
32	32	would subject U.S. companies to a 17.09 percent tariff on each
33	33	shipment of tomatoes imported from Mexico, resulting in severe
34	34	economic harm to numerous businesses and communities in Texas; the
35	35	estimated potential loss to the state's economy is more than $4.5
36	36	billion and 32,000 jobs; the vast majority of produce warehouses in
37	37	the Rio Grande Valley would see immediate and severe reductions in
38	38	their business, and many would face the threat of closure;
39	39	moreover, high duties on tomatoes would negatively impact consumers
40	40	by inflating prices and limiting the supply of vine-ripened and
41	41	specialty tomatoes, which are predominantly imported by Texas
42	42	companies; and
43	43	WHEREAS, Countless businesses, residents, workers, and
44	44	citizens of Texas have benefited from the Tomato Suspension
45	45	Agreement, and its continuation is vital to the economy of the Lone
46	46	Star State; now, therefore, be it
47	47	RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas
48	48	hereby respectfully urge the U.S. Department of Commerce to
49	49	maintain the Tomato Suspension Agreement; and, be it further
50	50	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an
51	51	official copy of this resolution to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.