Tendencias en La Produccion, Importancion Y Exportacion de Tomate Invernal En Puerto Rico Y Estados Unidos Previo Y Posterior Al NAFTA Durante 1990-1997

This study evaluates the production, imports, and exports tendencies for the winter tomato market of the United States, Puerto Rico, and México during two periods. The first period, called pre-NAFTA is defined from 1990 until 1993, three years before the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect. The second period, defined as post-NAFTA, covers four years, from 1994 to 1997, the first years after theNAFTA came into effect. It is estimated that an average of 710,715 pounds of fresh tomatoes are imported by the U.S. from the Mexico during the pre-NAFTA period. During the first four years of NAFTA the U.S. fresh tomato imports from Mexico averaged 1,276,134 pounds. An average increase of 65% in imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico was calculated, causing Florida tomato producers to be concerned of the implication of this agreement. In P.R., most of the tomato production is during the winter season, with exports of 60% to the U.S. During other seasons, P.R. imports 90% of fresh tomatoes from the U.S. In the pre-NAFTA period, P.R_imported an average of 178,958 from U.S., and 180,803 during the post-NAFTA period. These averages represent an increase of 1.03%, which is not a significant change in the tomato imports' tendencies. For the studied periods, Mexico has not had a direct significant effect on the imports of fresh tomatoes in P.R. This study also considers the possible effects on the production of fresh tomatoes if the Cuban embargo is lifted.