As one of the region’s biggest exports to the US, fruit is in the direct line of fire
Bananas, table grapes, berries, citrus and avocados are among the Latin American fruits that could be most affected by President Trump’s new tariff regime.
With the exception of Mexico, which is exempt from the tariffs under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), all exporting countries face the same 10 per cent tariff as things currently stand, so there will be no comparative advantage between one supply country and another. The main threat is that if tariffs are passed on to consumers through higher prices, this will affect demand.
In Chile, Frutas de Chile president Iván Marambio said table grapes and citrus are in the firing line. These two products alone represent nearly US$2bn in annual shipments to that destination.
“A 10 per cent tariff is something that could severely affect us,” Marambio said, adding that fruits such as plums, cherries, blueberries, apples, and pears could also be impacted.
In Peru, meanwhile, products like tables grapes, blueberries and avocado will be most affected by the tariffs. The US is the main destination for Peruvian exports, which totalled US$9.2bn in 2024.
Gabriel Amaro, president of the Association of Agricultural Producers of Peru (Agap), said the list provided by Trump includes virtually all countries “in the Southern Hemisphere and with several off-season crops.”
“At least 35 per cent of all our agricultural exports go to the US. That’s a very significant percentage, and now it’s going to enter at a 10 per cent higher cost,” he noted.
“It will obviously affect consumer behaviour and the market, due to the increase in the final consumer price. And if it negatively affects the market and consumption, it will obviously affect production.”
Amaro said the industry would have to take measures to counter this risk, noting that “We have been working on a plan that we have been promoting for years regarding access to global markets”.
In Argentina, lemons will be among the agricultural products most affected. Argentina exported US$2.048bn of agricultural goods to the US in 2024, its second-biggest export market overall.
Colombia’s agricultural exports to the US totalled US$3.bn in 2024. Coffee accounted for US$1.1bn, with other notable products including bananas, avocados and flowers.
In Costa Rica, the impact on agricultural products such as pineapple, bananas, and coffee could also be significant. The country’s agricultural exports to the US stood at US$1.626bn last year.
US trade representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday that nearly 50 countries have approached him to discuss reducing their tariffs and non-tariff barriers in the wake of Trump’s strategy. These are believed to include Argentina, Mexico and Ecuador, amongst others.
Mexico, like Canda, is exempt from the tariffs under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
However, the country’s advisor to the US embassy for agricultural affairs, Luis Martínez, indicated that the new US trade agenda, which prioritises domestic production, represents multiple challenges for Mexican producers.
“From Washington, we have long observed signs that we consider problematic, including constant rhetoric that seeks to blame imports and restrict trade with Mexico,” he said. “Agriculture is a sector that cannot wait for political decisions; it must continue working, so these decisions constantly affect producers.
“The challenge is significant because more than 80 per cent of our agricultural exports are destined for the US, so a change in the rules could translate into significant economic and job losses.”
