Mexico to allow Brazilian beef imports amid anti-inflation struggle

Mexico announced sanitary requirements for Brazilian beef imports Monday, opening the door to the country’s bovine products for the first time as Mexico looks to diversify its food supply amid high inflation.

The Brazilian state of Santa Catarina will be able to export fresh, refrigerated or frozen bone-in meat to Mexico, while another 14 states, including key producers such as Goias, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, will be able to export aged and boneless cuts.

The green light from Mexico has been criticized by some local producers, who warn of health risks as many Brazilian states must still vaccinate herds against the highly contagious food-and-mouth disease.

Brazil’s livestock sector is one of the world’s largest. The country’s agriculture ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched a number of programs to tamp down on stubbornly high inflation, which has led the country’s central bank to raise interest rates to 11%.

Last week, Lopez Obrador said he had talked with a number of regional counterparts to launch a joint anti-inflation plan, which would include eliminating some tariffs and other trade measures.

Mexico’s agriculture sanitation authority also said Brazil was at negligible risk for mad cow disease, after a case was reported last month. Authorities said the case, which triggered import bans from a number of countries, was “atypical.”

Source: Reuters

To read the original news report: https://www.reuters.com/article/mexico-brazil-meat/mexico-to-allow-brazilian-beef-imports-amid-anti-inflation-struggle-idUKL6N35F02L

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