Both Canada and Mexico announced today the removal of tariffs on U.S. red meat. The Mexican government published the official notice removing Mexico’s retaliatory duties on U.S. pork, and Canada’s Department of Finance announced that Canada will immediately eliminate the 10% tariff Canada imposed on prepared beef items imported from the U.S.

“Restoring duty-free access to the Mexican and Canadian markets is a tremendous breakthrough for the U.S. red meat industry,” U.S. Meat Export Federation president and chief executive officer Dan Halstrom said. “USMEF thanks President [Donald] Trump and [U.S. Trade Representative] Ambassador Robert Lighthizer for reaching an agreement with Mexico and Canada on steel and aluminum tariffs and, in turn, Mexico and Canada’s lifting of the retaliatory duties on U.S. red meat.”

The latest actions also remove a significant obstacle for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and USMEF is hopeful that all three countries will ratify USMCA as soon as possible, Halstrom said.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) also celebrated Mexico’s lifting of retaliatory tariffs against U.S. cheese exports. Still, NMPF said hard work remains for lawmakers and officials to further improve the trade outlook for dairy farmers.

“Dairy farmers have much to celebrate, with the resumption of normal business with our largest export partner,” NMPF president and CEO Jim Mulhern said. “To move forward in boosting exports, Congress needs to pass the USMCA, and Administration officials need to resolve the latest impasse in U.S. negotiations with China in a way that’s favorable to producers. Meanwhile, trade negotiations with Japan and other key partners also must move ahead. The time for progress on all fronts is now.”

Bill Morneau, Canada's minister of finance, stated, "With these developments, Canadian and American businesses can now get back to what they do best: working together constructively and supporting good, well-paying, middle-class jobs on both sides of the border. The removal of tariffs and countermeasures is a true win-win for everyone involved and great news for Canadian and American workers, for our communities and our economies."