June 23, 2004

 

Mexico Reopens Gates For Some US Livestock

Mexico reopened its borders to U.S. sheep, hogs and goats after Mexican officials agreed to use temporary facilities to inspect the imported animals, the U.S. Agriculture Department said Tuesday.

 

Mexican officials quickly agreed to a short-term fix in order to avoid a trade spat with the United States. The USDA said Mexico would eventually need to pass new legislation to avoid any future problems.

 

Shipments of sheep, hogs and goats to Mexico resumed Monday night, said USDA spokeswoman Julie Quick. "Mexican agricultural officials have set up temporary facilities so that inspections can take place on the Mexican side of the border," she said.

 

Trade was halted Thursday after Mexican officials began enforcing legislation that required inspections of U.S. livestock soon after the animals entered the country.

 

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said Mexico's actions affected only imports of U.S. sheep, hogs and goats. The United States shipped about $33 million worth of these livestock to Mexico last year.

 

Mexico has banned live U.S. cattle since the discovery of mad cow disease in Washington state in December.

 

U.S. government and industry officials had criticized Mexico for shutting its borders.

 

"This is a deliberate affront to free and fair trade," Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs said in a prepared statement.

 

Mexico has developed new regulations requiring inspections of live animals once they enter the country, instead of the inspections taking place on the U.S. side as had been the practice, one U.S. meat industry official said.

 

"There are virtually no livestock holding facilities in Mexico, and what they do have are inadequate to handle all livestock," Combs said.

 

The USDA discussed the issue with Mexican officials Friday and requested a two-month delay in implementing the order, which had become effective June 17, the Texas Agriculture Department said.

 

The United States shipped 290,602 hogs and 573,945 sheep to Mexico last year, according to the USDA.