(The Center Square) – Five Arizona congressional members and their colleagues have sent a letter to the Trump administration asking it to reconsider its decision to leave the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement. 

The TSA is an agreement between the United States and Mexico regarding the regulation of imported Mexican tomatoes. 

In their letter last week to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, the congressional members said terminating this agreement would cause Americans to lose jobs, increase consumer prices and hurt the country’s agricultural supply chain.

Specifically, they are concerned about how this decision will impact state economies like Arizona, Texas, Utah and California. 

The congressional members stated that the termination of this agreement could result in more than 50,000 job losses in Arizona and Texas alone.

They said international trade is “critical” for the country’s food supply and ability to meet Americans’ expectations for “affordable, healthy, and quality fresh produce year-round.” 

They added that numerous sectors have become dependent on year-round access to tomatoes and other non-American crops. 

 The letter cited a Texas A&M University study that shows Mexican tomato imports contribute more than $8 billion yearly to America’s economy. 

Furthermore, the congressional members referenced a University of Arizona study that said Mexican tomato imports contribute almost $3.5 billion to the country’s GDP. 

This agreement between the two countries began in 1996 to help inspect tomatoes coming from Mexico. That year, America started an antidumping investigation against Mexico to determine whether its imported tomatoes were sold at a lower than fair value. 

After launching the investigation, America suspended it, and both countries agreed to the TSA. Both countries have adjusted it, with the latest iteration coming in 2019.

However, the Department of Commerce announced last month that it was leaving this deal because the current agreement did not properly protect “U.S. tomato growers from unfairly priced Mexican imports.” According to the agency’s press release, it received many comments saying that America should withdraw from the agreement. 

The DOC said this move will let “U.S. tomato growers to compete fairly in the marketplace.” 

As a result of withdrawing from the agreement, the United States will impose a 20.91% tariff on imported Mexican tomatoes starting July 14.

Regarding inspection, the elected officials said that since the TSA went into effect, America has heavily regulated Mexican tomatoes. They stated that since 2020, Mexican tomatoes at ports of entry have passed inspection at a 99% success rate. 

“These metrics demonstrate how Mexican growers, their selling agents, and customers in the U.S. overwhelmingly comply with every facet of the agreement,” they wrote.

Moreover, the congressional members said they recognized the importance of American trade law and antidumping orders. Despite this, they said the one-size-fits-all approach risks undermining a domestic tomato industry that has benefited from “over two decades of protection via minimum floor prices under successive suspension agreements.”

Addressing the DOC’s complaints about TSA, the congressional members asked for more information about them.

In addition, the members said the current “tact” will jeopardize cross-border commerce and harm Mexico’s economy.

“Terminating the TSA now would be profoundly disruptive and run counter to the administration’s goals,” they said.

U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, both D-Arizona, with U.S. Reps. David Schweikert, R-Scottsdale; Greg Stanton, R-Prescott;  and Yassamin Ansari, D-Phoenix, signed the letter with 11 other congressional members.

(The Center Square) – The Louisiana Legislature has passed a bill that would give the state insurance commissioner broader authority to regulate insurance rates − including the power to declare rates “excessive” regardless of market conditions.

The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

House Bill 148, authored by Rep. Jeff Wiley, R-Maurepas, eliminates the legal distinction between “competitive” and “noncompetitive” insurance markets, a framework that previously limited when the commissioner could intervene.

By law, rates can only be declared excessive in noncompetitive markets. The bill repeals that restriction and applies a uniform standard.

The bill also updates the definition of “excessive” rates to include cases where administrative or overhead costs are too high for the services provided.

This provision was introduced through an amendment and had been proposed in several failed bills earlier in the session. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple opposed those earlier efforts and has continued to voice concern.

In a letter to lawmakers, Temple warned that the bill would grant the commissioner “unfettered power to deny any rate based on only the subjective belief that it is too high,” without adequate guardrails. He said that the changes could destabilize the already fragile insurance market by discouraging insurers from doing business in Louisiana.

“Insurers rely on a predictable regulatory framework to make informed business decisions,” Temple wrote. “Allowing – and frankly encouraging – subjective disapprovals could lead to inconsistent regulatory actions … ultimately harming consumers by limiting their choices and driving up premiums.”

The Insurance Council of Louisiana echoed Temple’s concerns, warning that HB148 would make Louisiana an “outlier” in several areas of insurance regulation. The group pointed to provisions that allow the commissioner to retroactively declare previously approved rates excessive and potentially require insurers to issue refunds − without a defined time limit.

It also criticized a new disclosure requirement that would compel insurers to release confidential rate filings before an appeal can be resolved.

“These issues … make Louisiana’s insurance rate and confidentiality laws different than almost every other state,” the group wrote. “The likelihood is that it will cause bad outcomes.”

Temple also criticized the way the measure advanced. After the House of Representatives rejected a similar proposal by Rep. Robby Carter, D-Amite, the language was revived and inserted into Wiley’s bill via an amendment by Rep. Brian Glorioso, R-Slidell.

“As it relates to the changes that are being made, it simply gives the commissioner the ability to make that determination,” Glorioso said while presenting the amendment. “It does not require him to do anything. There are factors that he is to consider … we’re just adding real language – another factor that may be considered.”

In addition to reshaping rate regulation, the bill requires insurance companies to disclose a policyholder’s previous premium amount when renewing homeowners or private passenger motor vehicle policies. Insurers must prominently display the prior premium alongside the new one, a move supporters say will improve transparency for consumers.

The legislation follows mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers like Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-Orleans, who have called for greater accountability from insurers rather than continuing the legislature’s focus on tort reform.

Temple, however, contends that the real driver of high auto rates is an “excessive” number of bodily injury claims – and that the Legislature’s focus should remain on reforms to reduce claim costs.

“HB148 and SB247 will reverse the positive trends we are seeing and could stifle any progress this session might otherwise achieve,” Temple said, referencing a separate Senate bill carrying similar provisions. “This is not the path for Louisiana. We cannot overregulate our way out of this crisis.”

The Insurance Council also warned that HB148 could undercut other pending reform bills – such as those addressing Louisiana’s comparative negligence rules and litigation costs – by introducing instability into the regulatory environment.

“While this bill may come out of good intentions,” said ICL Executive Director Rodney Braxton, “the likelihood is that it will cause bad outcomes.”

(The Center Square) – Three hurricanes in 66 days landed in Florida in 2024.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 2025 in the Atlantic Basin will be above normal, not good news for America’s southeastern tip that hopes to duck everything from Andrea to Wendy.

“NOAA and the National Weather Service are using the most advanced weather models and cutting-edge hurricane tracking systems to provide Americans with real-time storm forecasts and warnings,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “With these models and forecasting tools, we have never been more prepared for hurricane season.”

The season begins Saturday and runs through Nov. 30.

Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Steinhatchee on Aug. 5, Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach on Sept. 26, and Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key on Oct 9.

Helene more infamously did about $60 billion in damage to North Carolina, where 107 were killed.

NOAA forecasts 13 to 19 named storms in a season with 60% chance to be above normal. Named storms means winds will reach 39 mph or higher. Six to 10 of those are expected to reach 74 mph winds, meaning they become hurricanes. Another three to five would have wind of 111 mph or higher, the benchmark to hit Category 3.

NOAA, in its preseason release on Thursday, says its confidence level is 70%.

The Atlantic tropical cyclone names this season are Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.