A new 17% tariff on fresh Mexican tomatoes is in effect, raising concerns about price hikes in the US. Consumers await potential impacts on the produce market.

Over the past 30 years, Florida tomato growers’ share of the U.S. tomato market has shrunk from 80% to 20%, as Mexico-grown tomatoes become more common on shelves, Arizona State University professor Tim Richards said. Richards predicts the price of tomatoes will increase by about 8.5%, half the amount of the 17% tariff.

The US government has imposed a 17% import duty on most fresh tomatoes from Mexico. This decision aims to protect the American tomato industry. Talks between US and Mexican officials failed to reach a new agreement.

President Donald Trump has sent out around two dozen tariff letters in the past week, and one of the latest ones went to the European Union, threatening a 30% tariff on imports to the U.S. beginning Aug.

President Donald Trump says he plans to place tariffs of over 10% on smaller countries, including nations in Africa and the Caribbean

Bloc’s trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said duties at that level would make transatlantic trading ‘almost impossible’