Last week, the U.S. and Argentina announced they had reached a deal on the Framework for a Reciprocal Trade and Investment Agreement. The finalized agreement preserves the existing 10% U.S. tariff on Argentine lemon imports, avoiding any tariff elimination or expansion that would have increased competitive pressure on California lemon growers. This outcome reflects sustained advocacy by the California citrus industry working with USTR and members of Congress to protect domestic growers.
At the same time, the agreement strengthens U.S. leverage to challenge unfair trade practices going forward, while keeping additional enforcement tools fully intact.
Argentine Lemon Tariffs Remain in Place
- The agreement does not eliminate or reduce U.S. tariffs on Argentine lemons.
- Under the U.S. tariff schedule, Argentine products not explicitly exempted remain subject to an additional ad valorem tariff of up to 10%.
No Concessions on Citrus Import Market Access
- Argentina did not receive new preferential access for citrus products under the agreement.
Preserving the 10% tariff is a meaningful outcome that provides some assistance to lemon growers. While the agreement expands trade in other sectors, it avoids concessions that would have directly undermined California citrus growers and reinforces the Administration’s ability to act if import pressure intensifies.
California Citrus Mutual, alongside industry partners, will continue engaging with USTR and Congress to pursue additional protections and ensure trade agreements further account for the unique vulnerabilities of lemon producers in California.
For additional information, see the USTR Press Release here.
Content is the property of CCM; please seek permission from CCM before using it in any way.
