TRADE

U.S. to Probe Growers’ Complaint: The International Trade Commission said it will begin an investigation into allegations by Florida tomato and bell pepper growers that surging imports of Mexican vegetables have seriously hurt the U.S. industries. The announcement was in response to a petition filed March 11 by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Florida growers with the ITC, a U.S. government agency that investigates trade practices by other countries. The complaint says the domestic tomato and pepper industries have been hurt and market share lost because of a big jump in Mexican vegetable shipments into the United States. A decision on whether the increased imports have caused substantial injury to the industries is expected within 120 days.