Trump Administration Eyes Tariffs to Protect California Avocado Growers From Mexican Imports

President Donald Trump’s administration is weighing targeted tariffs on Mexican avocados as part of its broader agenda to support domestic agriculture and combat cartel influence, according to policy advocates. California’s approximately 3,000 avocado growers face mounting pressure from surging Mexican imports that undercut prices during the critical March-through-October harvest season, threatening the viability of many family operations.

Mexican avocado shipments into the United States increased 32 percent during the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period the previous year, flooding domestic markets and depressing prices for American producers. The influx occurs despite California growers meeting stringent labor, environmental and production standards that exceed many international competitors, according to supporters of trade protections.

The Treasury Department has documented that cartels operating in Mexico’s avocado-producing regions, particularly Michoacán, extort growers, demand payments tied to harvesting and exporting, and use violence to control communities. In August 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico suspended government activities for eight days due to threats against American interests in Michoacán, which produces the vast majority of Mexican avocados exported to the United States.

Policy advocates propose a seasonal tariff-rate quota that would allow duty-free imports up to a defined threshold, then apply higher tariffs on excess volume. Such a measure, they argue, could be implemented through the ongoing review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement while preserving year-round avocado availability for American consumers.

Proponents also call for enhanced United States Department of Agriculture oversight and inspector security in Mexican orchards, with provisions to suspend imports if Mexico cannot guarantee safe access for disease and pest inspections. These measures, supporters contend, would level the competitive landscape for American farmers adhering to domestic regulations while maintaining food security standards.