Also, they could deal a blow to U.S.-Mexico trade relations, a beef industry coalition told officials with the USDA and the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
The American Meat Institute, the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association have formed a coalition opposing this proposed initiation.
Coalition members met with the USTR office and USDA officials last week to argue the move is another unjustified attempt by Mexico to circumvent the North American Free Trade Agreement. The coalition indicated to USTR and USDA any safeguarding action by the Mexican government would be challenged before the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body. The USDA/USTR team is expected to travel to Mexico on April 23 to raise this and other trade irritants and resolve other problems the U.S. faces in shipping its agricultural products to Mexico. —WLJ
