Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SCR41 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R16397 TBO-D
2	2	By: Blanco S.C.R. No. 41
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7	7	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
8	8	WHEREAS, The State of Texas and Mexico have greatly benefited
9	9	from their strong economic relationship and long history of
10	10	bilateral trade; and
11	11	WHEREAS, Fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico contribute more
12	12	than $7.5 billion to the U.S. economy and support nearly 50,000
13	13	jobs; more than half of the imported tomatoes enter through ports in
14	14	Pharr and Laredo, with an estimated value of nearly $1.5 billion;
15	15	and
16	16	WHEREAS, The Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from
17	17	Mexico, or the Tomato Suspension Agreement, is the result of a
18	18	collaborative effort involving the U.S. Department of Commerce and
19	19	nearly 700 producers and exporters of fresh tomatoes grown in
20	20	Mexico; the agreement first became effective on November 1, 1996,
21	21	and its most recent update went into effect on September 19, 2019;
22	22	and
23	23	WHEREAS, Under the Tomato Suspension Agreement, signatory
24	24	producers and exporters must sell Mexican tomatoes at or above a
25	25	specific reference price to eliminate the injurious effects of
26	26	exports of fresh tomatoes to the United States; the agreement has
27	27	helped to bring stability to the tomato market while complying with
28	28	U.S. trade laws, and it has established strong enforcement and
29	29	monitoring mechanisms; in addition, the agreement ensures that U.S.
30	30	consumers have access to a wide selection of fresh tomatoes
31	31	year-round; and
32	32	WHEREAS, The termination of the Tomato Suspension Agreement
33	33	would subject U.S. companies to a 17.09 percent tariff on each
34	34	shipment of tomatoes imported from Mexico, resulting in severe
35	35	economic harm to numerous businesses and communities in Texas; the
36	36	estimated potential loss to the state's economy is more than $4.5
37	37	billion and 32,000 jobs; the vast majority of produce warehouses in
38	38	the Rio Grande Valley would see immediate and severe reductions in
39	39	their business, and many would face the threat of closure;
40	40	moreover, high duties on tomatoes would negatively impact consumers
41	41	by inflating prices and limiting the supply of vine-ripened and
42	42	specialty tomatoes, which are predominantly imported by Texas
43	43	companies; and
44	44	WHEREAS, Countless businesses, residents, workers, and
45	45	citizens of Texas have benefited from the Tomato Suspension
46	46	Agreement, and its continuation is vital to the economy of the Lone
47	47	Star State; now, therefore, be it
48	48	RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas
49	49	hereby respectfully urge the U.S. Department of Commerce to
50	50	maintain the Tomato Suspension Agreement; and, be it further
51	51	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an
52	52	official copy of this resolution to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.