WASHINGTON – On May 20, trade officials representing Canada and Mexico lifted tariffs on US goods including pork and beef. This followed the US government’s agreement to lift steel and aluminum tariffs between the three countries last week. The deal removed 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent tariffs on aluminum imposed by the US.

Mexico previously issued a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on US pork products and Canada issued a 10 percent tariff on US beef. According to the National Pork Producers Council, the Mexican tariffs cost American producers $12 an animal or $1.5 billion.

"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,” said Bill Morneau, Canadian finance minister. “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."

The US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) lauded the decision.

“Restoring duty-free access to the Mexican and Canadian markets is a tremendous breakthrough for the US red meat industry,” said Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of USMEF. “This also removes a significant obstacle for the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and USMEF is hopeful that all three countries ratify USMCA as soon as possible.”