July 25, 2014    

Japan to soon import pork from all states in Mexico

Japan will relax its restriction on Mexican pork imports that was imposed following an outbreak of hog cholera in the country in October 2000, Kyodo News International reports.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will embark on a five-nation tour of Latin America from late this month, is expected to announce the decision when he meets with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The change comes as Japan, Mexico and the 10 other countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade initiative are struggling to make progress in their talks due to the Japan-US stalemate on the deal involving Japanese tariffs on pork products. Japan apparently wants to win a concession from the US by allowing Mexico greater access for pork.

Japan imported in total about 740,000 tonnes of pork in fiscal 2013. The US was the largest pork exporter to Japan, followed by Canada, Denmark and Mexico, with Mexico exporting 60,000 tonnes.

Under the bilateral free trade agreement with Mexico, Japan reduced its tariff on up to 90,000 tonnes of high-priced pork from 4.3% to 2.2% for the current fiscal year. Both countries are not expected to increase the quota for such pork.

Japan currently imports Mexican pork only from states where protective measures against hog cholera have been established.