NAFTA AGRICULTURE FACT SHEET:
Swine and Pork

TREATMENT OF TARIFFS:

U.S. Import Tariffs

• Imports from Mexico of live swine and some fresh, chilled and frozen pork products already entered the United States duty-free upon enactment of the NAFTA on January 1, 1994. The 2.2 cents per kilogram U.S. tariffs on the remaining fresh, chilled and frozen pork products imported from Mexico was eliminated immediately upon enactment of the agreement.
• Before the NAFTA, U.S. tariffs on edible offal were already zero for imports from Mexico.

Mexican Import Tariffs

• Upon enactment of the agreement, Mexico's 10-percent tariff on imports of U.S. and Canadian swine for breeding was eliminated. Mexican imports of purebred swine already entered duty-free.
• For imports of U.S. and Canadian slaughter swine and fresh/chilled/frozen pork and hams, Mexico implemented NAFTA special safeguards. These safeguards allow certain quantities of imports of U.S. and Canadian products at preferential NAFTA tariffs, while amounts in excess are assessed the lower of the current applied MFN rate or the MFN rate in effect when the quantity trigger is reached. For these products, the in-quota tariff of 20 percent is being phased-out over 10 years. The quota amount grows at a 3-percent compounded annual rate.
• Mexico's tariffs of 10 or 20 percent on imports of U.S. edible offal (except pigskins, which enter duty-free) are being phased out over 10 years.

TREATMENT OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS:

• There are no quantitative restrictions affecting U.S.-Mexico trade in live swine or pork and pork products.

U.S. Swine and Pork Trade with Mexico

Live Swine

Value in $1,000; volume in number of head. U.S. imports from Mexico are zero or very small.

Pork/Hams, Fresh, Chilled, Frozen

Value in $1,000; volume in metric tons.

Pork, Variety Meats

Value in $1,000; volume in metric tons. U.S. imports from Mexico are zero or very small.

Last modified: Friday, November 18, 2005