Trade with Mexico
The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that it is collaborating with Mexico to prepare a paperless electronic certification direct data exchange between FSIS’ Public Health Information System and Mexico’s system for products under FSIS jurisdiction. These discussions are covering both U.S. imports and U.S. exports, with a goal of sending and receiving eCert data directly between the two countries’ systems without the need for an accompanying paper certificate. FSIS believes this will enhance traceability, reduce fraud, and modernize bilateral trade in meat and poultry products.
FSIS states that this effort follows Mexico’s onboarding into the PHIS export component in November 2024, for digitally signed FSIS Form 9060-5 series certificates, and is designed to further advance FSIS’ goals of modernizing and digitizing certification processes wherever possible. A significant difference with the November 2024 onboarding is that eCert will allow Mexico to receive and view required data and information directly in its electronic system.
China Tariff Exclusions
Citing industry sources, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service reports that China will suspend its tariff exclusion process on certain imports from the U.S. (including agricultural products) as of Aug. 1 and that all approved exclusions are only valid until Sept. 14. FAS notes that China’s Ministry of Finance has not provided any announcement or explanation about the apparent policy change.
According to FAS, the ministry’s State Council Tariff Commission implemented in March 2020 a process where importers can apply to waive the Section 301 retaliatory tariffs imposed on products from the U.S. A list of nearly 700 tariff lines, including about 150 agriculture-related products, is eligible for such exclusions, though the SCTC also allows exclusion applications for products not on the list.
FAS notes that while it is not immediately clear whether the apparent forthcoming suspension of tariff exclusions covers all applicable products from the U.S., industry sources have confirmed that most U.S. agricultural products, including grains, oilseeds, meat, pulses, tree nuts, alcohol, leather/hide, and fruit, are affected.
Orchids
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has decided that, beginning July 22, imports of Phalaenopsis spp. orchid plants from Germany and the Netherlands in approved growing media may be authorized. As a condition of entry, such plants will have to meet all relevant requirements included in the USDA’s Plants for Planting Manual and detailed in a bilateral workplan.
Fruit
Effective July 25 APHIS has removed a requirement for fruit imported from New Zealand to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the fruit is free of light brown apple moth. APHIS explains that while this pest can damage a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and other valuable plants, since 2007 the agency has established that standard commercial production practices are sufficient to remove any risk from the spread of this pest in commercially produced commodities.
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