Source: POLTICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 11/16/18

New numbers indicate that tariffs are starting to take a toll on two of the largest markets for U.S. pork producers. American pork exports to Mexico dropped 10 percent in September when compared with September 2017. Exports to China sank even more drastically — by 33 percent — during that month.

Not just a one-off: The numbers, released Thursday in an Agriculture Department Economic Research Service outlook report , also showed exports to the two countries dropped on a quarterly basis — shipments to Mexico were off by 5.6 percent in the third quarter and by nearly 29 percent to China, compared with the third quarter of 2017.

Both countries targeted pork for retaliatory duties in response to the Trump administration's actions. Mexico hit the products after the U.S. slapped duties on Mexican steel and aluminum for national security reasons. China's retaliation was in response to U.S. tariffs meant to punish Beijing for its forced technology transfer and intellectual property policies.

On the trade front today: The U.S. International Trade Commission holds a second day of hearings as it develops a report to Congress on the economic impact of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Meat producers are on today's docket.

On Thursday, a top dairy industry official raised questions about whether the USMCA pact is susceptible to loopholes that could diminish its intended benefit of providing greater market access to American dairy farmers, Pro Trade's Megan Cassella reports.