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USDA halts pork imports from the Mexican state of Queretaro
Story Date: 5/25/2012
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Source: Andre Sulluchuco, MEATINGPLACE, 5/24/12
U.S. pork imports from the Mexican state of Queretaro have been halted based on USDA orders, ElEconomista.com.mx reports. The decision comes based on “inadequate processing practices,” noted by the USDA.
The USDA visited with state producers a month ago to discuss an appropriate pork export permit, which was eventually not granted.
"USDA visited us a month ago to certify the state for pork exports; when we get certified, we become direct competitors to them. They then raised challenges and said that our raising and slaughter practices were inadequate,” said Alejandro Ugalde Tinoco, president of the Queretaro Association of Pork Producers (AGLPQ).
U.S. pork exports to Mexico have totaled $2 billion in pork products, while the same Mexico exports have only reached $1.2 million. "There’s no fair competition, they put us as if we’re producing poor quality pork. We are well above even some U.S. producers," Ugalde affirmed.
Mexican pork is produced at competitive costs because labor is cheaper than in the U.S., he said.
The Mexican Ministry of Economy must intervene, Tinolco suggested, by implementing a law against price dumping since the domestic leg product is sold at $3.15 while the same imported product is sold at $1.55.
Mexico would eventually lose food sovereignty, he added, noting that in the 1980s only 20 percent of the consumed meat was imported, while now it has increased up to 50 percent.
The price difference between imported and exported meat would nationally affect the pork farms, Tinolco concluded, leading to a staff reduction to support production costs.
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