U.S. AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT UPON THE RE-OPENING OF ...

U.S. AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT UPON THE RE-OPENING OF THE MEXICAN MARKET FOR U.S. BEEF EXPORTS.  THE USDA ANNOUNCED THAT SECRETARY JAVIER USABIAGA OF MEXICORE-OPENED THE BORDER.

U.S. MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION VICE PRESIDENT, WESTERN HEMISPHERE HOMERO RECIO SAYS THE OPENING IS A RESULT OF COLLABORATIVE WORK BETWEEN THE U.S. AND MEXICO.

"The Mexican market was re-opened with a cooperative effort between the U.S. industry, USDA, and the U.S. embassy in Mexico Cityworking together to take the necessary steps and present the necessary opportunities to government officials in Mexico to base their decision for opening the market on sound science."   (:23)

WHILE THIS NEW MEASURE LIMITS WHAT TYPES OF U.S. MEATS ARE ALLOWED INTO MEXICO, RECIO SAYS IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE EFFORT TO COMPLETELY RE-OPEN THE MEXICAN MARKET TO U.S. BEEF.

"We do want to congratulate the Mexicans on taking a leadership role in the opening of the market and basing their opening on science.  We do anticipate that this is a first phase of the opening of the market.  First to boneless beef, and then we hope to have an opening for beef variety meats soon.  Then, we would like to expand that to trimmings and ground beef, as well as eventually get to a normalization of trade that would allow bone-in with the specific risk materials removed, as well as product from cattle that are over thirty months of age, as long as the specific risk materials have been removed.  So, we hope to get back to normal trade within a period of time."  (:43)

BONELESS BEEF PRODUCTS ACCOUNT FOR SEVENTY-FIVE TO EIGHTY PERCENT OF U.S. BEEF EXPORTS TO MEXICO.  RECIO SAYS THE IMPACT OF THE MEXICAN MARKET OPENING WILL BE WIDESPREAD.

"We believe that the cattle producers in the United States should be excited about the opening of Mexico, first, because it is one of the top three markets.  It is the first of the big three markets to open up, and that’s exciting.  Hopefully, it will set precedence for other countries.  And, in some parts of the world, we do know that Mexico’s opening will be linked to some Central American countries in terms of their opening and what they do.  So, we think they should be excited from that perspective, as well as the Mexican market for beef is over 800-million dollars between beef and beef variety  meats.  So, we think that’s something to get excited about." (:41)

RECIO SAYS USMEF HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS NEW TRADE AGREEMENT.

"USMEF’s involvement in the opening of the Mexican market has been one that has been a partnership between working very closely with the Mexican government, the Mexican industry, as well as with the U.S. government and the U.S. industry.   Specifically, our Mexico Cityoffice had been working with the key stakeholders in Mexico – the importers, the supermarkets, the restaurants, the hotels, the food service distributors – and informing them about the situation and what it would take to open the market, and how they could assist us and themselves, their own business, with the opening of the market… So MEF played a key role, but again, it wouldn’t have been possible to get this done without the help of USDA, our industry, and in particular, the stakeholders in Mexico."  (:49)

RECIO SAYS USMEF WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TOWARD A COMPLETE LIBERALIZATION OF TRADE BETWEEN MEXICO, CANADA, AND THE U.S.

THE U.S. MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION 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, SORGHUM AND SOYBEAN CHECKOFF PROGRAMS.