Mexicans Protest
U.S. Pork Imports

MONTERREY, Mexico — Hundreds of Mexican ranchers on Monday blocked the border pass between Tamaulipas and Texas for several hours to protest imports of U.S. pork.

Some 600 ranchers from all across Mexico shut down the International Bridge connecting Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, with Laredo, Texas, for five hours.

Vicente Garcia, a spokesman for the ranchers, said Mexican businesses have seen their revenue drop 15 percent due to the "indiscriminate importation" of U.S. pork.

According to Garcia, the United States exports meat that U.S. consumers deem of an "inferior grade," which allows exporters to lower their prices and engage in unfair trade practices with Mexican producers.

The protest ended after the government promised to listen to the ranchers' demands in a meeting scheduled for later this week.

The protest seriously disrupted traffic on the International Bridge, which some 5000 truckers use daily.