Unconfirmed Reports Regarding Mexican Tariff Increases

Unconfirmed Reports Regarding Mexican Tariff Increases

The status of threatened increases in Mexican tariffs on U.S. agricultural and industrial exports remains uncertain today despite unconfirmed media reports which have indicated that U.S. meat exports will be excluded from the list of affected products.

“It is too early for us to state with any degree of certainty which products will or won’t be affected if the tariffs are increased as discussed,” said Paul Clayton, USMEF’s senior vice president of export services.  “There is no point in speculating on the list until we hear something official from the Mexican government.”

Clayton noted that USMEF’s team in Mexico, led by Director Chad Russell, is working around the clock to determine if there are any changes in the export status of U.S. beef or pork.

Media reports out of Mexico earlier this afternoon quoted an unnamed source in Mexico’s Agriculture Ministry as saying that beef, pork and poultry products from the U.S. would not be affected by increased tariffs enacted in retaliation for a move by the U.S. government to ban Mexican trucks from entering the United States.  The same media report also cited unnamed sources in Mexico’s national meat council.

The only reports that have been confirmed are statements by Mexico Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz Mateos who stated that the U.S. decision to suspend a program to allow Mexican 18-wheelers to deliver goods across the border would result in increased tariffs on an estimated 90 U.S. products from 40 states valued at $2.4 billion.  The list of the products and the timing of the tariffs has not been announced.

USMEF will provide details on the announcements from Mexico as they can be confirmed.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.

Unconfirmed Reports Regarding Mexican Tariff Increases

The status of threatened increases in Mexican tariffs on U.S. agricultural and industrial exports remains uncertain today despite unconfirmed media reports which have indicated that U.S. meat exports will be excluded from the list of affected products.

“It is too early for us to state with any degree of certainty which products will or won’t be affected if the tariffs are increased as discussed,” said Paul Clayton, USMEF’s senior vice president of export services.  “There is no point in speculating on the list until we hear something official from the Mexican government.”

Clayton noted that USMEF’s team in Mexico, led by Director Chad Russell, is working around the clock to determine if there are any changes in the export status of U.S. beef or pork.

Media reports out of Mexico earlier this afternoon quoted an unnamed source in Mexico’s Agriculture Ministry as saying that beef, pork and poultry products from the U.S. would not be affected by increased tariffs enacted in retaliation for a move by the U.S. government to ban Mexican trucks from entering the United States.  The same media report also cited unnamed sources in Mexico’s national meat council.

The only reports that have been confirmed are statements by Mexico Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz Mateos who stated that the U.S. decision to suspend a program to allow Mexican 18-wheelers to deliver goods across the border would result in increased tariffs on an estimated 90 U.S. products from 40 states valued at $2.4 billion.  The list of the products and the timing of the tariffs has not been announced.

USMEF will provide details on the announcements from Mexico as they can be confirmed.

# # #

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.