The Mexican Ministry of Economy officially approved on January 7th the request to initiate an anti-dumping investigation into apples imported from the United States.

Mexico's Ministry of Economy officially approved on January 7th a request to initiate an anti-dumping investigation into apples imported from the United States, after finding evidence that the product was being sold in the Mexican market at prices below its normal value.

The resolution, published in the Federal Register (DOF), states that the anti-dumping investigation will cover shipments of apples imported between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Furthermore, an assessment of damage to the domestic industry will be conducted over a longer period, from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2025, to fully consider the cumulative impact of imported apples on Mexican producers.

The request to initiate an investigation was filed on August 29, 2025, by the Chihuahua State Regional Federation of Fruit Growers (Unifrut). This organization represents producers in Chihuahua State, one of Mexico's largest apple-growing regions, bordering the United States. The state accounts for a significant portion of the national apple production and has for many years reflected the negative impacts of competition from imported apples.

The Mexican Ministry of Economy stated that, as part of a preliminary analysis, it calculated the production costs of three apple varieties imported from the United States, using methods and data provided by Unifrut. The comparison showed that the average import price into the Mexican market was lower than the estimated production costs, thus indicating dumping practices as defined by Mexican law and international trade agreements.

The initiation of the investigation does not yet imply the application of trade measures, but it could lead to the imposition of anti-dumping duties if unfair competition is confirmed and causes injury to the Mexican industry. The document also clarifies that, if dumping is determined, Mexican authorities may apply formal anti-dumping duties to shipments imported within 90 days prior to the imposition of the provisional measures.

The Mexican Ministry of Economy also stated that it will notify relevant parties, including U.S. exporters and manufacturers, to present their comments and provide evidence throughout the investigation. This case adds to the list of agricultural and food trade disputes between Mexico and the U.S. amid rising tensions over tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump starting in 2025, and as the two countries seek to maintain a balanced economic relationship within the framework of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Source: VTV