Geneva/Washington - Mexico has called on members of the World Trade Organization to withdraw any measures taken against Mexican pork products since news emerged of an outbreak of a new influenza virus, according to a document circulated on Tuesday. In the document to the WTO's Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which was sent on May 4, Mexico said there was no scientific or health basis for the ban imposed on its pork products.
Among the countries which have slapped an import ban on Mexico and some areas of the United States, are China, a WTO member and major pork consumer, and Russia, which is trying to gain entry into the organization but has not yet done so.
In an e-mail to the German Press Agency dpa, a spokeswoman for US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, wrote that the ambassador "has been very clear in calling on America's trading partners to immediately lift bans on US pork products and swine."
Mexico said it "expresses concern about various measures that some WTO Members have adopted against pork imports from Mexico, using as a reason the outbreak of A/H1N1 influenza," in the document sent to the WTO.
"Mexico deeply regrets that some Members are using the outbreak of A/H1N1 influenza as a reason to establish restrictions or bans on imports of products other than pork, and urges them to bring their measures into line with their obligations under" WTO rules.
Some countries have gone further than others, banning all meat products from the Latin American country.
Last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke urged China and Russia to end their ban on the pork products, saying there was no reason for disrupting trade "without cause."
Over a dozen other countries have imposed restrictions on Mexican pig products and similar items from some states in the US.
"Mexico will continue to promote consumption of Mexican pork both inside and outside the country," the document to the WTO said.
"There is no scientific basis for these harmful bans on U.S. products," the USTR's Carol Guthrie said in the email.
Numerous international organizations, including the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the WTO have said there is no threat of contracting the new virus from well-cooked and properly handled pork.
