Mexico and Peru remove barriers to trade for US
The deals mean that US producers will be able to export slaughter cattle to Mexico for the first time in more than a decade, while access to consumer markets in Peru for US fresh and chilled pork will be expanded.
Tom Vilsack, US agriculture secretary made the announcement to producers in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Our priority at USDA is not only to open or reopen markets for our producers, but to help drive US economic growth through trade by supporting and creating American jobs on and off the farm,” he said.
“Mexico is an important market for US cattle producers, with the potential to import $15 million of live US cattle per year and we expect Peru’s market could generate $5m annually in additional pork sales.”
The USDA said it continued to push for the elimination of all remaining trade barriers for US cattle and cattle products related to past detections of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
The agreement between the US and Mexico begins with immediate effect.
Earlier this year the Government of Chile’s Ministry of Health approved access for US fresh pork to the country, which came after numerous bilateral interventions and collaborative efforts with the National Pork Producers Council, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
Joe Schuele, vice president of communications at the US Meat Export Federation, told GlobalMeatNews, that it was awaiting further details on the agreement with Peru, so was unable to comment at present. However he added that while Peru is currently a small market for US pork, “our exports have risen sharply over the past three years”.
“US exports in 2011 were just 400 mt, valued at less than $1 million. In 2014, the US industry exported 1,672mt of pork to Peru valued at $4.5 million,” he added.
