WASHINGTON — October 21, 2011 — U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has commented on the
announcement by the Government of Mexico that it is suspending, effective today, the last of the
retaliatory tariffs it had imposed more than two years ago on an array of U.S. products such as
apples, certain pork products, and personal care goods. The tariffs were imposed as a result of a
cross-border trucking dispute between our two countries. Earlier this month, on October 14,
the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued operating authority to a
Mexican trucking company under the provisions of a memorandum of understanding
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/Mexican_MOU_Eng.pdf
between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and
Transportation. On July 8, two days after the MOU was signed between the transportation
ministries, Mexico suspended the first 50 percent of its retaliatory tariffs; they had committed to
lift the remaining duties on goods exported from the United States within five business days after
the first Mexican carrier received operating authority.
“As a result of our cooperative work with this important trading partner, Mexican tariffs
that had ranged from five to 25 percent on American products are now suspended, enabling the freer
flow of American exports to Mexican consumers,” Ambassador Kirk said. “Mexico is a valuable
market for U.S. manufacturers, farmers, ranchers and small businesses. By suspending these
retaliatory tariffs, Americans will be better able to compete in the Mexican market, which will
result in increased U.S. exports and more well-paying jobs here at home. President Obama and
I welcome any step that supports American jobs and continues to rebuild our economy.”
The agreement on Lifting of Retaliatory Measures signed by the Office of the United States
Trade Representative and the Government of Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy can be viewed here.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/English-Trucking-Letter.pdf
A list of U.S. products that had been subject to the retaliatory tariffs can be found here.
http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/build/groups/public/@tg_ian/documents/webcontent/tg_ian_002692.pdf
Posted on October 25, 2011
Source: USTR
