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Mexico deal is a relief to US meat industry

The president of the US Meat Export Federation says the recent news that the administration would not impose tariffs on Mexico came as a relief to the US meat industry.

Dan Halstrom says the US pork sector has been hit the hardest by the retaliatory tariffs imposed by Mexico.  “Through the first months of 2019, we’re down 18 percent in volume and down 29 percent on value to Mexico on pork,” he says.  “The fact that we’re able to get back to zero duty and avoid this complication – we will see a rebound in this most important market for US pork.  Especially when you look at items like US hams.”

Halstrom says he’s hopeful this deal will provide a boost to the new US-Mexico-Canada agreement.  “Up until now I would say the US has been lagging a bit,” he says.  “But this might provide us the momentum needed to get us moving in the right direction and hopefully getting approval of the USMCA – sooner rather than later.”

The USMCA still needs to be ratified by all three nations.