The Mexican meat industry stated that it is seeking to open new export markets in the face of the border closure with the United States and the uncertainty of its reopening after the resurgence of the cattle screwworm, a pest that has generated losses of more than 11 million dollars a day to producers and exporters.
Alonso Fernández Flores, president of the National Association of Federal Inspection Type Establishments (ANETIF), pointed out that a “latent concern” of the meat industry is the outbreak of the screwworm that has impacted the export of live cattle, generating “serious losses.”
“So it is necessary to strengthen our industry and seek to open new markets,” he said in a statement.
Fernández assured that the Mexican meat industry “is strengthened and has an optimistic future,” despite the challenges caused by the border closure with the US, tariffs on goods and geopolitical conflicts.
He explained that the Federal Inspection Type System (TIF) has made it possible to increase the presence of Mexican meat products abroad and seek other markets, such as the Philippines.
He added that said system “will continue to strengthen, seeking new export markets, the resumption of trade agreements with Europe and serving markets such as Asia.”
On the other hand, he stated that the meat industry currently contributes 2.3% of the national GDP and maintains “a growth higher than that of the food GDP”, so “it is in a state of growth” and “dynamism that is sustained mainly by strong internal consumption, despite external challenges.”
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Regarding the upcoming review of the North American Trade Agreement (TMEC), Fernández trusted that the conditions that have positioned Mexico as a strategic partner, with favorable access to the United States and Canadian markets, will be maintained.
“We believe that fair agreements will be reached for the three countries and Mexican products will continue to position themselves abroad, giving other products an opportunity,” he stated.
He also pointed out that Mexico remains a relevant exporter of beef and pork, mainly to the United States with more than 276,690 tons annually.
“The beef and pork sectors continue to be the most attractive to foreign markets,” he emphasized, during the presentation of the seventh TIF Food Industry Summit, which will take place from November 12 to 14 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
The statement by the Mexican meat industry comes after US President Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that his country would buy beef from Argentina, in an attempt to contain inflation and reduce the high prices of this product in the United States.
At the beginning of October, the Mexican Government reported a 28% reduction in the screwworm infestation of livestock, thanks to the joint plan implemented with the United States, after the closure of the border in May.
With information from EFE
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