Thread: Mexico suspends purchases from 30 US meat plants

riday, December 26, 2008 - Page updated at 11:35 AM

Mexico suspends purchases from 30 meat plants
Mexico suspended meat imports from 30 processing plants in 14 states, including some of the nation's largest, on Wednesday and Friday, according to a list posted on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Web site.

The action pushed down beef and pork futures in trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Friday.

Among the plants listed on the site are the Smithfield Packing Inc. plant in Tarheel, N.C., the world's largest pork slaughterhouse.

Another Smithfield plant in Plant City, Fla., that processes pork, beef and poultry is also on the list, along with three plants operated by subsidiary John Morrell & Co., two in South Dakota and one in Iowa, a Nebraska pork run by subsidiary Farmland Foods Inc. and a Pennsylvania beef plant run by its Moyer Packing Co. unit.

Six operations run by Tyson Foods Inc. in Iowa, Texas and Nebraska were also on the list.

Other affected plants are run by food giants Cargill Inc., ConAgra Foods Inc., and Swift Foods Inc., along with Seaboard Corp. and 11 small private companies in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Utah.

Tyson spokesman Archie Schaffer III said the company had no prior warning from Mexico about the ban and only learned of it when shipments were turned aside at the border Wednesday. The ban could greatly affect the Springdale, Ark.-based company, as high feed prices have already strained its profits. Mexico represents 23 percent of its $3.8 billion of international sales in 2008, according to company statistics.

"No information or explanation was given," Schaffer said. "We're going to be working beginning Monday" to restore trade.

Attempts to reach representatives at Smithfield, ConAgra and Swift were unsuccessful.

According to published reports, the suspensions may be in retaliation for the U.S. putting a country-of-origin labeling law into effect on Oct. 1 in response to concerns the safety of imports.

On Dec. 18, Mexico joined Canada in opposing the new law, which involves fresh beef and pork, in a complaint to the World Trade Organization. Canada's government filed its complaint Dec. 1, saying it was concerned the U.S. rules were discriminating against Canadian agricultural exporters.

The complaints generate a 60-day consultation period between the governments, after which the WTO can step in with an investigative panel.

The country-of-origin labeling law mandates the separation of foreign cattle and pigs in U.S. feedlots and packing plants. Foreign animals are also required to have more documentation about where they come from and, in the case of cattle, must have tags that indicate they are free of mad cow disease.

Canadian farm groups say a growing number of meat plants in the U.S. are refusing to accept Canadian cattle and hogs for processing since the law went into effect.

In afternoon trading, Smithfield shares were up 81 cents, or 6.7 percent, to $12.88. Tyson shares added 23 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $8.30. ConAgra edged up 2 cents to $16.15.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...yndication=rss

This is another war we can't lose!! China and Mexico are killing Americans with their filthy, tainted food. Toys are posioning our kids, some die.

It took like 8 years to get this Country of Origin Label to go in effect. The other countries don't want us to know who's killing us with their CRAP!!!

BUY AMERICAN EVERYTHING!!

Call your Senators and Congressmen. Write, email and FAX

This is only hurting the citizens of Mexico. Their government just drove the price of meat up in Mexico and I'm sure their population is not going to be happy about that.

Fine! We will eat our meat and you can eat yours.

Dixie

How foolish when so many illegals work in meat processing plants in the U.S. They're taking jobs from their own people.

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

How foolish when so many illegals work in meat processing plants in the U.S. They're taking jobs from their own people.

Could be, that with so many Mexicans returning, Mexico is trying to use this as leverage to "persuade" more jobs in the meat packing industry to follow them home.

There is NO level low enough that Mexico won't stoop to in order to get what they want they want in accordance with their agenda.

And what they want is prosperity for Mexico and Mexicans at the expense of the US and Americans.

According to published reports, the suspensions may be in retaliation for the U.S. putting a country-of-origin labeling law into effect on Oct. 1 in response to concerns the safety of imports.




Now why in the world would Mexico be so set against those labels?

Aren't they just bursting with pride over Mexico?

Aren't they a superior nation of workers superior to all others?

Given that, one would think they'd not only be all for the labels but insist that "Mexico" be stamped on products in bold, large print

Their protest just goes to show that even THEY don't believe their own BS.

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

How foolish when so many illegals work in meat processing plants in the U.S. They're taking jobs from their own people.

Hope this mean that more illegal alien mexican nationals return to their beloved Mexico, when they lose these jobs. Great news for us!

I suppose they view COOL labelling as a threat to their agriculture, brought up on polluted land with polluted water. They really don't care to see that Americans are worrying about the stuff they are eating as rampant problems with their peppers did a bit to diminish their stance as a food producer for the rest of the world. I guess we are not being really politically correct demanding food safety for this population while there are no standards that equal ours in Mexico. Perhaps they (along with China) just want to sicken us so they can overrun the country and ease their population and poverty squeeze.

I hope the idiots in DC do not cave into the mexicans on this one.To Hell with the both of them!

Mexico suspends purchases from 30 US meat plants

Who cares?!?
Give the meat to charities and soup kitchens in the USA.