NAFTA AGRICULTURE FACT SHEET:
Fresh Cucumbers

TREATMENT OF TARIFFS:

• Upon enactment of the NAFTA on January 1, 1994, several new U.S. tariff lines were created for cucumbers to allow for the maximum transition period for more sensitive periods, yet grant Mexico improved access during its main shipping season. Two periods have the maximum phaseout period of 15 years to allow for the transition from high U.S. tariffs.
• Mexico matched the U.S. seasonal tariff lines and phaseout schedule except that none of Mexico's phaseout periods exceed 10 years. Mexico's initial tariff on cucumbers was 10 percent.

The U.S. phase-out schedule for cucumbers is the following:

Season	                  Base tariff	Phaseout 

Dec. 1-Feb. 28/29	4.9 cents/kg	   Immediately 

Mar. 1-May 31	        6.6 cents/kg	   15 years 

June 1-June 30	        6.6 cents/kg	   5 years 1/ 

July 1-Aug. 31	        3.3 cents/kg	   Immediately (GSP)

Sept. 1-Sept. 30	6.6 cents/kg	   5 years 1/ 

Oct. 1-Nov. 30	        6.6 cents/kg	   15 years 

1/ Duty free on January 1, 1998.

TREATMENT OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS:

• There are no quantitative restrictions affecting trade in cucumbers.

U.S.-Mexico Cucumber Trade

Value in $1,000; volume in metric tons.

Last modified: Friday, November 18, 2005