October 18, 2004

Mexico Lifts Tariffs on US Beef
 

Mexico will drop duties on certain types of US beef after the Economy Ministry revised its antidumping decisions Friday.

The measure eliminates tariffs on "select" and "choice" US beef, while upholding duties on other boneless and bone cuts, according to the ministry.

The decision is meant to resolve a dispute filed by the US against the antidumping duties. The North American Free Trade Agreement binational panel determined in March that Mexico had failed to demonstrate US beef imports were hurting domestic producers.

The panel's decision had "confirmed in part" Mexico's position, the ministry said, but also required a new resolution that complied with the panel's ruling.

The duties, which have been in place since April 2000, amount to between 3 cents and 80 cents a kilogram.

US exporters affected by the decision can appeal, which could extend the review by at least another three months.