US: Mexico Imposing Tariffs on Additional American Exports

VOA News
August 16, 2010 at 8:10 pm

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says the United States is disappointed with Mexico’s decision to impose retaliatory duties on additional U.S. products in an ongoing dispute over cross-border trucking.

Kirk issued a statement Monday saying Mexico is an important U.S. export market, and that the U.S. is committed to working with Mexico to resolve the dispute and end the duties.

In March 2009, Mexico announced that it would impose tariffs on more than $2 billion worth of U.S. exports in retaliation for a U.S. decision to cancel a program allowing Mexican trucks on U.S. highways. Opponents had argued the trucks do not meet U.S. safety standards.

The tariffs affected about 90 products ranging from sunglasses to produce to toilet paper.

The U.S. trade representative’s office says Mexican officials have not provided the U.S. with a list of the additional goods being subjected to the latest tariffs, but that it expects Mexico to do so later this week.

Some information in this story was provided by Bloomberg and Reuters.