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There might not be a staple of the American diet more at risk if there were to be a disruption in U.S.-Mexico trade than chips and fresh salsa.

Considering Arizona鈥檚 culinary preferences, it could constitute a minor emergency here.

Nogales, Arizona, home to the modern Mariposa Port of Entry, is one the nation鈥檚 leading entry points for Mexican-grown tomatoes, which end up in not just in fresh salsa, but in salads, pasta dishes and so much more.

Trade keeps Nogales humming year-round, but it鈥檚 during cold-weather months that the importance of Nogales鈥� produce trade sector becomes especially clear. The impressive logistics network in Nogales is vitally important to American shoppers鈥� ability to find great-tasting vine-ripened tomatoes in their local store鈥檚 produce section, from Safford to Seattle. It鈥檚 why Gov. Ducey鈥檚 administration has fast-tracked improvements to SR-189, the state highway that links the port with Interstate 19, and it鈥檚 why the governor鈥檚 budget calls for funding for a聽聽at Mariposa so produce doesn鈥檛 spoil if it needs to be unloaded for a more thorough inspection.

Thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexican-grown tomatoes can be imported through Mariposa and other ports of entry tariff-free, which keeps them affordable. After all, tariffs are taxes that get passed on to consumers.

So, credit to the Trump administration, which rejected loud calls from Florida agricultural interests to insert so-called 鈥渟easonality鈥� provisions into the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement鈥攖he successor to NAFTA鈥攖o dramatically聽.

The Florida crowd wants to throw up barriers to Mexican tomatoes to give their state鈥檚 products the upper hand. They want it to be easier to bring investigations of unfair trade practices against Mexico over claims that tomatoes are being dumped into the U.S. market and that the industry in that country is benefitting from government subsidies.

But in reality, Florida鈥檚 beef is with U.S. consumers, who prefer Mexico鈥檚 greenhouse-grown, vine-ripened varieties over Florida鈥檚, which are picked green from the field and then artificially ripened with ethylene gas before they get to grocery stores or restaurants.

The small but vocal band of Florida interests were stymied in their attempts not only to insert import limits into USMCA, but also last year鈥檚 Farm Bill. But after聽聽from some members of that state鈥檚 congressional delegation, the Department of Commerce last month announced its intention to withdraw from the current agreement that governs U.S.-Mexico tomato trade. Known as the Tomato Suspension Agreement because it suspended a dumping investigation against Mexico, the 2013 deal brought stability to the market. That鈥檚 all at risk now.

The Commerce Department will exit the agreement in early May, which not only risks duties being assessed on U.S. tomato importers, but could drive up costs for U.S. shoppers, while cutting quality and variety.

Not only are consumers poised to lose, but so is the U.S. economy. According to an聽released last November by the University of Arizona, Mexican fresh tomatoes are responsible for over 30,000 U.S. jobs and nearly $5 billion in total sales. That鈥檚 a lot of fresh salsa.

Arizona leaders aren鈥檛 sitting on their hands, though.

Most members of our congressional delegation, including Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally and House Ways and Means Committee member David Schweikert, sent a聽to Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross on March 1 citing their concerns over the decision to withdraw from the agreement.

鈥淲e encourage the Administration to continue to craft agricultural trade policy that seeks to strengthen the industry nationally, not one that is calibrated around regional or seasonal interests,鈥� the letter said.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined with a large private-public sector coalition of free trade advocates in sending a similar聽聽to Commerce, which said that 鈥淭erminating the agreement risks retaliation to our domestic agriculture industry and creates economic uncertainty throughout the supply chain.鈥�

These are the right messages. USMCA modernizes NAFTA and enhances the competitiveness of the U.S. economy. The protectionist measures sought by Florida are a step backward that run counter to the spirit of cooperation that defines the U.S.-Mexico relationship and that is embodied in the USMCA.

A new agreement on tomatoes should put consumers and the health of the U.S. economy first鈥攏ot regional interests.

Glenn Hamer is the president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry