Following recent reports published in different media outlets regarding the ongoing review process into Mexican strawberry exports to the United States, the National Association of Berry Exporters (Aneberries), which brings together growers, marketers and other participants across Mexico's berry value chain, has issued a statement aimed at clarifying the scope and current status of the investigation promoted by growers in the state of Florida before the United States International Trade Commission (ITC).
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"As background, on 31 December 2025, the organisation Strawberry Growers for Fair Trade (SGFT) filed a petition to initiate the investigation. Following that filing, the procedure includes different stages, among them a preliminary phase that resulted in the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) issuing a preliminary determination on 27 February 2026 allowing the process to continue. It is important to emphasise first that this determination does not constitute a final ruling, nor does it imply the imposition of trade measures."
"It is also important to note that this is a sector wide investigation and is therefore not directed at individual companies. As such, references to specific companies must be understood within the context of a procedure analysing the behaviour of the industry as a whole. In this sense, the participation of some Mexican exporting companies in the process responds exclusively to their inclusion in technical information gathering exercises and they were selected based on a standard methodology used by the investigating authority, considering only their export volume. Consequently, their mention in public documents does not imply differentiated treatment or any specific allegation regarding their conduct."
"As a result, to date no dumping practices have been determined, nor has any causal relationship been established between Mexican exports and damage to the United States industry. It is important to highlight, however, that the US authority has already rejected the concept of seasonality promoted by SGFT, determining that the analysis must be carried out comprehensively, with a national approach to the United States market. This means the concept of 'winter strawberries' should not be applied, nor will only one commercial region of the neighbouring country be assessed."
"In the subsequent stages, key phases of the procedure still need to be completed. First, it must be determined whether real injury exists to the strawberry producing industry in the United States and, only if that is confirmed, whether that injury was caused by unfair trade practices or dumping by Mexican strawberry producers."
"From Aneberries, we reiterate the importance of ensuring that the information being circulated accurately reflects the nature and current status of the process, in order to contribute to an informed public discussion."
For more information:
Aneberries
https://aneberries.mx/
