February 25, 2004

USDA Expects Mexican Ban On Beef To End In Days

U.S. Department of Agriculture Chief Economist Keith Collins said Tuesday he expects Mexico to ease its ban on U.S. beef in "a matter of days."
 
This surprising u-turn comes hours after USDA Secretary Ann Veneman blasted Mexico for failing to lift its ban on US beef, stressed he believes that frustration will be short-lived.
 
"I think we're in the very home stretch," Collins said in regards to getting U.S. beef shipments moving back into Mexico.
 
Mexico is traditionally the second-largest foreign market for U.S. beef. The U.S. exported 314,359 metric tons of beef to Mexico from January through November last year, worth $818 million, according to USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
 
However, the Mexican market closed its doors to U.S. beef exporters following the discovery of mad cow disease in Washington late last year.