NAFTA AGRICULTURE FACT SHEET:
Fresh Citrus

TREATMENT OF TARIFFS:

• Upon enactment of the NAFTA on January 1, 1994, several new U.S. tariff lines were created for oranges, mandarins, and tangerines.
• Mexico matched the U.S. tariff line changes and duties on oranges and grapefruit.
• Mexico immediately eliminated its 20-percent duty on lemons.

The U.S. phaseout schedule for citrus is as follows:

Item       	Season	         Base tariff	Phaseout

Oranges	      Dec. 1-May 31  	2.2 cents/kg	5 years 1/ 

Oranges	      June 1-Nov. 30	  2.2 cents/kg	Immediately 

Mandarins/
tangerines    Oct. 1-Apr. 30  	2.2 cents/kg	10 years 

Mandarins/
tangerines    May 1-Sept. 30  	2.2 cents/kg	5 years 1/

Lemons	      Jan. 1-Dec. 31  	2.75 cents/kg	10 years

Limes	      Jan. 1-Dec. 31  	2.2 cents/kg	10 years

Grapefruit    Aug. 1-Sept. 30  	2.2 cents/kg	Immediately

Grapefruit    Oct. 1-Oct. 31	  1.8 cents/kg	10 years

Grapefruit    Nov. 1-July 31	  2.9 cents/kg	10 years

1/ Duty free on January 1, 1998.

TREATMENT OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS:

There are no quantitative restrictions affecting trade in fresh citrus.

U.S. Citrus Trade with Mexico

Oranges

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

Mandarins/Tangerines

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

Lemons

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

Limes

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

Grapefruit

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

Last modified: Friday, November 18, 2005