Iowa Lawmakers Push to Protect Pork Exports to Mexico

Iowa’s congressional delegation is urging the Trump administration to consider the impact on farmers and consumers as it negotiates trade issues with Mexico following the termination of the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement.

Led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the lawmakers warned that Mexico’s antidumping investigation into U.S. pork, launched in December 2025, could threaten a key export market for Iowa producers. Mexico purchased more than $1.8 billion worth of Iowa pork in 2025, making it the industry’s largest export destination. In a letter to administration officials, the lawmakers said the threat of retaliation from the number one export market creates a chilling effect on the pork industry that already faces headwinds domestically due to state regulations like California’s Proposition 12.

The delegation also noted tomato prices have risen nearly 7% since the agreement ended. The National Pork Producers Council backed the effort, calling for a resolution that preserves a stable U.S.-Mexico trading relationship.