Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 8/19/10

Mexico has officially published U.S. pork products on which it will impose retaliatory tariffs amid a cross-border trucking dispute.

The tariffs, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, apply to hams, shoulders, cuts thereof, bone-in, fresh/chilled and frozen pork product, as well as cooked pork skin in pieces (pellets). The applicable tariff codes are 0203.12.01, 0203.22.01, and 1602.49.01.

The tariff rate on ham and shoulder cuts is 5 percent and takes effect today. The tariff on cooked skin pellets is 20 percent and also takes effect today.

Mexico’s announcement, according to USMEF, states the tariffs will apply until Mexico and the United States resolve a cross-border trucking dispute under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“[C]onsumers in Mexico and pork producers in the United States are both going to pay a price for a dispute that is certainly not of their making,” USMEF President and CEO Phil Seng said. “The tariffs are an unnecessary barrier that interferes with free trade and offers no benefit to anyone.”

Industry and government officials are working to resolve the issue.

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