The US Meat Export Federation announced it is working closely with the National Pork Producers Council and the Office of the US Trade Representative in responding to Mexico’s anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation on pork hams and shoulders.

Mexico’s International Commercial Practices Unit launched an investigation targeting the United States on Dec. 15, 2025. The period under investigation covers Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024.

A final determination will be made on Sept. 1. If an affirmative decision is found in the investigation, duties may be imposed on US exports.

USMEF has been assisting exporters in providing information to Mexican authorities showing demand is strong for US pork in Mexico. Consequently, high demand has pushed importers to outbid other buyers in the region, taking larger volumes at higher prices, said  Erin Borror, vice president of economic analysis at USMEF.

“Remember that US pork production peaked in 2020, and so we've had some relative stability on the supply side,” she said. “But Mexico continued to pull that product, and thus larger volumes at higher prices — that's demand. There is no dumping factor whatsoever.”

The demand-driven market is furthered by challenges with animal disease, Borror pointed out.

“We also know that Mexico, like many producers around the world, has struggled with disease, and there is a need for imported pork in Mexico, partially because of PRRS and PED,” Borror said. “That's also been part of the reason they've had such a huge demand for imported pork.”

Pork trade remains vital for US exporters on both sides of the border, but particularly in Mexico, the top destination for US pork.

“[Mexico is] our dominant customer for hams, in particular, of which this case is focused, again, specifically on hams and shoulders,” Borror said.

In 2025, Mexico imported a record of 1.2 million tonnes of US pork, valued at $2.8 billion. The United States’ southern neighbor accounts for approximately 42% of all US pork export volume.

“Mexico has had what seemed like an insatiable demand for US pork, and those bone-in hams, fresh, flowing 24/7, are a perfect fit into Mexico's vast processing sector,” Borror said..

Source: Meat Poultry