Mexico Bans Imports From U.S. Meat Plants

Mexico has banned poultry and beef imports from 17 U.S. meat plants, halting some sales from the largest U.S. meat processing companies to buyers south of the border, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Mexico told the U.S. that it found various violations at the 17 plants, which are owned by companies that include Tyson Foods Inc., the world’s largest poultry producer, and IBP Inc. , the world’s largest fresh-meat processor. The banned plants are in Texas, Kansas and Arkansas, the USDA said. Some U.S. government and industry officials accused Mexico of unfairly retaliating against the U.S. after U.S. inspectors found violations during a recent tour of Mexican plants. Mexican officials declined to comment.