Congressman Gabe Evans and Senator Kevin Cramer led a bicameral letter on April 28 urging Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to take action on economic and food safety issues linked to increased onion imports from Mexico.
The lawmakers said that American onion growers are struggling with cost disparities, uneven regulatory enforcement, and limited food safety oversight on imported onions. They warned these factors create an unlevel playing field that threatens domestic producers.
“We appreciate the Trump Administration’s commitment to restoring fair trade practices that prioritize American jobs and strengthen local economies. That leadership is urgently needed as U.S. onion growers face an increasingly uneven competitive environment. Structural cost disparities, inconsistent regulatory enforcement, limited access to food safety inspections, and rapid agricultural expansion in northern Mexico are distorting the market and placing sustained pressure on domestic producers. We ask for your support in ongoing trade negotiations with Mexico to end these unfair practices and ensure American growers can meet domestic demand,” the letter said.
The letter outlined several key concerns including a 300 percent rise in U.S. production costs since 1992, major labor cost differences—with U.S. wages averaging $16.50-$17 per hour compared to about $1.80 in Mexico—unequal food safety standards, cartel-controlled farms subsidizing onions in Mexico, and water delivery failures under the 1944 treaty that benefit Mexican agriculture while limiting resources for U.S. farmers.
Other signatories included Representatives Cliff Bentz, Michael Simpson, Rick Allen, Jeff Hurd, Julie Fedorchak, Claudia Tenney, Dan Newhouse, Lauren Boebert as well as Senator John Hoeven.
Onion producers across Colorado and the nation play a significant role in rural economies and America’s agricultural supply chain but face increasing competition from Mexican imports produced at lower costs under less strict regulations.
Lawmakers said this effort demonstrates Congress’ commitment to fair trade practices for agriculture while emphasizing their view that “food security is national security” and calling for immediate action.
