Mexico has announced it will impose a 10-percent punitive tariff on imports of fresh pork from the United States starting today and escalating to 20-percent tariff on July 5. The duty goes into effect on Wednesday. Minnesota Pork Producers Association Executive Director Dave Preisler says this is a devastating blow to the industry as Mexico is the top buyer of American hams.

He says Mexico is the largest pork export customer for the U.S. by volume accounting for 25-percent of all shipments last year. However, it is also important from a value stand point.

Preisler says so far Canada has not named pork in their retaliatory tariff list.

Preisler says they’re uncertain if the tariff battle will derail the NAFTA negotiations, but it will complicate the deal.