The Government of Mexico recently issued a decree extending zero-duty treatment of certain food imports – including pork, beef and poultry – from all eligible suppliers through the end of 2024.
Erin Borror, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) vice president of economic analysis, explains that Mexico first suspended these import duties in May 2022, as part of an effort to combat rising food prices. The suspension was originally to remain in place for 12 months but was later extended through the end of 2023. Under the updated decree, duties remain suspended through Dec. 31, 2024.
Mexico is the leading destination for U.S. pork exports, with U.S. and Canadian pork having duty-free access to Mexico through NAFTA and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Mexico’s pork duty exemption has mainly benefited the European Union and Brazil, and Brazilian pork made some inroads into the Mexican market after gaining access in early 2023. But Mexico suspended imports of Brazilian pork in November, after a court ruling detailed procedural deficiencies in the implementation of Mexico’s sanitary requirements. While it is likely temporary, this suspension remains in place. Borror notes that during the time that Brazilian pork was entering the Mexican market, U.S. market share actually increased, with Brazilian pork mainly displacing imports from Canada and the EU.
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