The US wanted Mexico to create a more regularized, formal and transparent system for which products they would and would not allow into the country. Some of the Mexican work plans implemented as part of this formalization process have been viewed by US agriculture as non-tariff barriers. Ironically, these Mexican work plans to protect domestic agriculture were modeled on a US program to protect the US domestic market from Mexican mango exports. Work plans have been successfully negotiated for peaches and nectarines, apricots, plums and cherries. Apples and pears continue to be restricted.
Negotiations are ongoing in several areas.
Progress has been made on both the tomato and avocado issues. Initially, import of Mexican avocados will be restricted to 19 Midwestern and Northeast states and only during the winter months. This announcement has reduced the tension over many phytosanitary barriers. Impact on California - While certain jobs may be lost as a result of increased trade and competition, the California agricultural community, as well as the rest of California industry, stand to gain more and higher paying jobs through liberalization of the barriers to agricultural trade than they would lose. Because of the size and nature of the California agriculture sector, California is affected disproportionately by these barriers compared to the rest of the nation.