Trump pushes tariff quota to shield California avocado growers from Mexican imports

In line with the Make America Healthy Again initiative, the Trump administration is urging a seasonal tariff-rate quota on Mexican avocados to aid roughly 3,000 California growers. Data show a 32% increase in Mexican shipments from January through mid-July versus the same period in 2025, which has lowered market prices for domestic fruit. Treasury officials and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico have warned that cartels dominate the primary Mexican avocado region of Michoacán, extorting growers and threatening security.

The proposed quota would permit a defined volume of imports duty-free, after which higher tariffs would apply, and would be linked to USDA inspector access to ensure safety. If Mexico cannot guarantee security for inspections, the plan calls for a temporary suspension of imports. Advocates claim the approach balances consumer access, food safety, and the economic survival of American farms.