The Mexican Meat Council (Comecarne) called for improvements in the application of customs and health standards within the framework of consultations on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

This position was set out in a letter sent to the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

Comecarne

Under Chapter 7 of the USMCA, the Parties must ensure the expeditious clearance of goods through transparent, predictable, and uniformly applied procedures, supported by risk management systems that focus inspections on high-risk goods and expedite the clearance of low-risk shipments.

In practice, Comecarne member companies have reported variability in the application of sanitary and customs criteria at different ports of entry. 

“This lack of uniformity can lead to delays, additional costs, and uncertainty for operators—particularly those handling perishable agri-food products—and can affect the overall predictability and efficiency of cross-border trade,” it said.

In line with the objectives of the USMCA, Comecarne recommended that the USTR, in coordination with its Mexican counterparts, promote operational improvements to strengthen coordination between customs and sanitary authorities. 

Comecarne is composed of 46 members and 93 associate members involved in activities related to the meat industry, including slaughterhouses, cutting and deboning facilities, and processors and packers of fresh and processed meat.

Meat sector

Comecarne proposed a series of actions for analysis by the USMCA Trade Facilitation Committee, in accordance with Article 7.24. The goal is to streamline regional trade and reduce operating costs for the meat sector.

First, it proposed a pilot implementation in high-volume ports, with coordinated inspections and pre-arrival processing. In this way, the use of electronic documentation would reduce clearance times for compliant, low-risk shipments.

In addition, it proposed a link with authorized economic operators (AEOs) specializing in perishable agri-food products. This scheme would include key performance indicators (KPIs), such as clearance times and inspection rates, along with regular reports to the Committee.

The agency also called for the digitization of customs procedures and the simplification of documentary requirements for the transit of meat products within the region. This would promote the use of single windows and digital tools.