Southern Arizona importers are bracing for the effect of tariffs put in place on Mexico, Canada, and China by President Donald Trump.
Matt Mandel with SunFed, a significant importer of fruits and vegetables, says the tariffs are ultimately a tax on consumers.
"The fresh produce industry has always worked on razor-thin margins, so a 25% tariff is not something that could be absorbed either by the growers or the producers of the fresh fruits and vegetables that Americans have come to enjoy on a year-round basis," he said.
Mandel says the cost of many vegetables such as tomatoes, bell peppers, and avocados, will increase by at least 25% but so will many other popular Mexican imports, such as alcohol.
