Washington - The National Pork Producers Council said Wednesday it was “disappointed” that Mexican hog farmers this week set up a blockade to stop U.S. imports from entering their country.
“We're disappointed that they would resort to this sort of activity,” said Nick Giordano, assistant vice president for foreign trade at the NPPC.
Mexican hog farmers on Tuesday ended a 26-hour blockade on all imports from the United States at two border sites after they agreed to meet with trade officials.
The blockade prevented about 3,000 cargo trucks from entering the country through the two sites. Up to 1,500 farmers were reportedly impeding imports.
Giordano said his group has always considered Mexican producers allies and has worked with the Mexican pork industry to fully open trade under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
“I think that the U.S. pork industry, perhaps more than any other industry in the United States, has worked hard to make NAFTA work, to make it a two-way street,” he said. “We've been very aggressive in promoting their interests in Washington.”
Giordano said U.S. industry has lobbied for acceptance of pork imports to the United States from the Mexican state of Sonora and for recognition of Mexican efforts to wipe out hog cholera, a deadly viral disease.
Giordano said he understands that low pork prices are frustrating producers worldwide, but he noted U.S. hog farmers also are suffering.
Mexican hog farmers have asked the Trade Ministry to slap a 30 percent dumping duty on U.S. live hog exports to Mexico, saying the U.S. farmers are selling their excess at below market prices.
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