01/16/09 Mad Mexico

I'm Jeff Keane. Today, I have to tell you Mexico is not happy with the United States. I'll be back right after this break to tell you why. Mexico is not happy with our nation, more to the point Mexico is not happy with the U.S. meat industry. First of all, our southern neighbor filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over the United States Country of Origin Labeling law (COOL) pertaining to beef and pork products labeling. This was done December 18, 2008 as they joined Canada and Nicaragua stating the labeling law was costing them lost import meat sales to the United States. Then on December 24th and 26th, Mexico suspended meat imports from 30 U.S. processing plants in 14 states. Company spokesmen said there was no prior warning and they found out quite abruptly when U.S. shipments were rejected at the Mexican border. This action affected right at 45 percent of U.S. hog slaughter capacity authorized for Mexican import and about eight percent of total U.S. beef slaughter numbers. The ban was put in place over "miscellaneous findings" at port of entry inspections including general conditions of product, sanitation, and possible pathogen problems. U.S. companies affected included Tyson, Smithfield, John Morrell, Farmland, and Moyer Packing. Rumor had it that the ban was in retaliation for our Country of Origin Labeling, but the USDA stated another country would not use plant de-listment as a method to punish another country. Oh really! I'm Jeff Keane. Western Ag Reporter 12/25/08 & 1/01/09