001001 Mexico probes U.S. beef exporters avoiding duties

Mexico City, Mexico - Mexico said it had launched an investigation into beef imports from the United States because of indications U.S. exporters were avoiding paying anti-dumping duties.

The Trade Ministry said a preliminary analysis found “reasonable indications” that U.S. firms were selling beef through intermediaries in order to avoid the tariffs, and that some meat was also irregularly certified.

Mexico established anti-dumping duties against U.S. beef imports in April after finding in an 18-month investigation that U.S. firms were threatening the existence of local meat producers with cheap products. U.S. exporters have challenged the decision.

The tariffs range from 7 U.S. cents a kg (2.2 lbs) to 80 U.S. cents a kg and were applied to U.S. whole and half beef carcasses, boneless cuts and cuts with bones.

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