Background on the Situation
Puebla, Mexico is facing the challenge of protecting its tomato export market following the imposition of tariffs by the United States on Mexican tomato imports. The Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico y Trabajo (Sedetra) of Puebla is devising a strategy to safeguard the annual 150,000 toneladas of tomato exports.
Key Player: Víctor Gabriel Chedraui
Víctor Gabriel Chedraui, the head of Sedetra, has taken the lead in this initiative. He mentioned that negotiations with various countries’ embassies have already begun to identify more flexible markets for Puebla’s tomato exports, which currently account for 98% of their sales in the United States and the remainder in Canada.
Current Export Statistics
Chedraui highlighted that Puebla’s tomato exports have reached a value of 140 million US dollars annually, with a growth rate of 7.6%. The state is one of the leading producers in Mexico, with a market value of 1.175 billion pesos.
Key Tomato-Producing Municipalities
There are ten municipalities in Puebla that dominate tomato production: Aquixtla, Cañada Morelos, Tepanco de López, Ixcaquixtla, San Salvador Huixcolotla, Tetela de Ocampo, Atlixco, Chignahuapan, Tlapanalá, and Tehuacán.
Producers’ Concerns
Chedraui explained that tomato producers in these municipalities are worried about their harvests. He urged them to explore alternative foreign markets if the United States does not reverse its 17.09% tariff decision.
Sedetra’s Strategy
The Puebla state government’s strategy aims to preserve the product’s competitiveness and maintain export levels, ensuring that local producers are not adversely affected by the U.S. tariffs.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? The imposition of tariffs by the United States on Mexican tomato imports.
- Who is leading the response? Víctor Gabriel Chedraui, head of Puebla’s Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico y Trabajo (Sedetra).
- What is the current value of Puebla’s tomato exports? 140 million US dollars annually, with a growth rate of 7.6%.
- Which municipalities are key tomato producers in Puebla? Aquixtla, Cañada Morelos, Tepanco de López, Ixcaquixtla, San Salvador Huixcolotla, Tetela de Ocampo, Atlixco, Chignahuapan, Tlapanalá, and Tehuacán.
- What are producers’ concerns? They worry about finding alternative markets if the United States does not reverse its tariff decision.
- What is Sedetra’s strategy? To protect the product’s competitiveness and maintain export levels.
