Sen. Carper Commends Successful Efforts to Prevent Restrictive Mexican Fees on U.S. Poultry

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) commended efforts that led to Mexico’s decision to not impose harmful fees against U.S. poultry. In April, Sens. Carper and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) led 16 of their colleagues in a letter urging U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to resolve the dumping case brought by Mexico against U.S. poultry products. Mexico used a flawed methodology as the basis for its case. Mexico initially proposed imposing harmful fees on U.S. poultry imports and had until August to make a final determination on whether or not to move forward with the fees. With this recent decision, Mexico upholds its charge, but will not impose antidumping fees on U.S. poultry. This decision ensures Mexico’s market, one of the largest export markets for U.S. poultry, remains open to U.S. poultry products.

“This decision helps protect the livelihoods of Delaware’s and America’s poultry producers by ensuring that our poultry continues to enjoy unrestricted access to Mexico’s markets,” said Sen. Carper. “Every year chicken producers in Delaware and across the country export hundreds of millions of dollars in poultry products to countries like Mexico. I want to thank the U.S. Trade Representative Kirk and his team for working with me and my Congressional colleagues to resolve this matter. Moving forward I will continue my efforts to work with the Administration, trade officials and the poultry industry to protect our consumers and support our poultry growers by expanding access for U.S. poultry to markets around the world.”

Every year, Mexico imports nearly 250,000 metric tons of U.S. poultry products, which in the most recent year was valued at nearly $270 million. This decision is an important development to ensure U.S. access to Mexico’s markets, which is provided under the North American Free Trade Agreement, as Mexico takes steps to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and expand its commitments to regional trade alliances.