October 31, 2003

US Senator Calls For Action To Smooth Pork Exports to Mexico
 

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is asking the Bush administration to carry out whatever is necessary to ensure that U.S. pork exports are unrestricted. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick on Tuesday, Feingold stated that after two years of economic losses, pork producers would not be able to withstand further import restrictions imposed by Mexico.

In recent years, Mexico has used sanitation rules and anti-"dumping" rules to try to block U.S. pork exports, according to the Middleton Democrat. Dumping is the practice of exporting a surplus good to another nation at very low prices.

"It is important that Mexico work to improve fairness and transparency of its sanitary inspection system," Feingold said. "I urge the USDA to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Mexican market remains open to U.S. pork exports."

Since passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), legislation Feingold opposed, Mexico has increased exports to the U.S., while at the same time making efforts to impede US pork exports to the country.

"Last year, Wisconsin pork producers contributed $85 million to the state's economy," Feingold said. "Agreeing to limit U.S. agricultural exports is simply unfair to already struggling pork producers in Wisconsin and across the country. I will continue to do all that I can to help ensure that our pork producers are treated fairly."