News & Events | USMEF Insight | Mexican Pork – A Growing Competitor In Japan

USMEF Insight

Mexican Pork – A Growing Competitor In Japan

Trying to reap the benefits of the Mexico-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Mexican Pork Exporters Association has been aggressively conducting promotions in Japan. As forecast by USMEF before the FTA was signed, the agreement gives Mexico favorable import conditions, such as no safeguard and duties at one-half the rate applied to pork products from the United States and other countries.

Mexico is now the fourth-largest pork supplier to Japan. Its pork is price-competitive due to lower labor costs, especially for partially processed items such as jowl meat and sliced or skewered belly. That, combined with lower duty rates, is enticing restaurants and retailers to carry the product. Mexican packers also are aggressively trying to take advantage of their smaller plants and hog sizes to develop customized products for the Japanese market.

USMEF Insight

Mexican Pork – A Growing Competitor In Japan

Trying to reap the benefits of the Mexico-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Mexican Pork Exporters Association has been aggressively conducting promotions in Japan. As forecast by USMEF before the FTA was signed, the agreement gives Mexico favorable import conditions, such as no safeguard and duties at one-half the rate applied to pork products from the United States and other countries.

Mexico is now the fourth-largest pork supplier to Japan. Its pork is price-competitive due to lower labor costs, especially for partially processed items such as jowl meat and sliced or skewered belly. That, combined with lower duty rates, is enticing restaurants and retailers to carry the product. Mexican packers also are aggressively trying to take advantage of their smaller plants and hog sizes to develop customized products for the Japanese market.

USMEF Insight | Mexican Pork – A Growing Competitor In Japan | Trying to re...