Mexico Tariffs Hit A Diverse List Of U.S. Goods

Mexico tariffs hit a diverse list of US goods

By Mica Rosenberg


MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico said Wednesday it was imposing higher tariffs totaling $2.4 billion on a wide list of U.S. imports, ranging from strawberries to Christmas trees, after Washington banned Mexican trucks from U.S. roads.

The official government gazette said the new tariffs, which will be between 10 percent and 45 percent, become effective Thursday.

Mexico said the U.S. ban on its trucks violates the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and in retaliation published a list of dozens of products subject to tariffs.

To avoid raising prices for local consumers, the Mexican government excluded major staples like rice, corn, wheat and meat products and instead focused on 90 imports from U.S. states that will not hurt Mexican manufacturers.

The targeted imports, estimated by Mexico to be worth $2.4 billion a year, included wine, sunglasses, toilet paper, pet food, ornaments, soy sauce and pencils and produce such as apricots, pears, canned peas, onions and potatoes.

Mexico, the United States' No. 3 trade partner, is angry the U.S. Congress scrapped a pilot program this month that allowed Mexican trucks to haul goods deep into the United States.

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http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/03/mexico_tariffs_hit_a_diverse_list_of_us_goods.php

Fine, slap a tariff on corn all you want you fools. Let the riots begin once again in Mexico city. LOL