Mexican Egg Import Tariffs Eliminated

By CnAgri2012-09-18 19:30:35 Print

Last week, Mexico's Secretariat of Economy announced modifications to applied duties for imported fresh eggs for human consumption and eggs for industrial purposes in the Diario Oficial (Mexico's Federal Register). Effective as of September 14, 2012, eggs from the harmonized tariff system codes listed below are tax exempt.

According to SE, the June 21, H7N3 subtype A avian influenza outbreak in the state of Jalisco has drastically reduced domestic egg production.

Consequently, the market has witnessed increased prices, greater volatility, and unjustified speculation. SE reports that this measure received the approval of the Foreign Trade Commission.

The SE announcement states that starting September 14, 2012, egg imports (for human consumption, dry, frozen or in powder) from any country will be exempt from import tariffs.

Prior to this announcement, applied duties ranged from 45 percent for HTS 0407.21.01 to 20 percent for other HTS code items indicated in the chart.

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in Mexico has said that this announcement does not imply any change to the United States' preexisting tariff-free access, but could result in increased price competitiveness.