Voluntary Report - public distribution **Date:** 12/17/2002

**GAIN Report Number:** MX2172

MX2173

**Mexico**

**Agricultural Situation**

**Weekly Highlights & Hot Bites, Issue #43**

2002

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)William L. Brant

#### U. S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Benjamin Juarez, Dulce Flores & Sal Trejo

**Report Highlights:**

[SENATE STOPS MEASURE TO POSTPONE
2003](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_SENATE_STOPS_MEASURE),
[FOX DECLARES NAFTA A
SUCCESS](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_FOX_DECLARES_NAFTA),
[PRESIDENT FOX PROMOTES A NEW VISION OF
NAFTA](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_PRESIDENT_FOX_PROMOTES),
[MEXICO COULD ESTABLISH SAFEGUARDS ON AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_MEXICO_COULD_ESTABLISH),
[AGRICULTURE ARMOR OF THE LOWER
CHAMBER](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_AGRICULTURE_ARMOR_OF),
[PRESIDENT ASSURES FARMERS OF
SUPPORT](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_PRESIDENT_ASSURES_FARMERS),
NAFTA AUTHORS OPEN SUMMIT TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF FREE TRADE,
[GOVERNORS CONFERENCE AGREES TO NOT OPEN
NAFTA](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_GOVERNORS_CONFERENCE_AGREES),
[FOX AGAINST NAFTA RENEGOTIATION; FOR
SAFEGUARDS](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_FOX_AGAINST_NAFTA),
[USABIAGA PREDICTS 2003 WILL HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON AG
SECTOR](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_USABIAGA_PREDICTS_2003),
[NAFTA POSITIVE FOR MEXICO, STATES
DERBEZ](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_NAFTA_POSITIVE_FOR),
[ECONOMISTS, ACADEMICS, GOVERNMENT, DIFFER ON BENEFITS OF
NAFTA](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_ECONOMISTS,_ACADEMICS,_GOVERNMENT,),
[SALINAS DEFENDS NAFTA AND FOX'S DESIRE FOR MIGRATION
AGREEMENT](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_SALINAS_DEFENDS_NAFTA),
[SENATORS DENY PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED
STATES](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_SENATORS_DENY_PRESSURE),
[CONGRESS ACCUSES U.S. OF UNFAIR
TREATMENT](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_CONGRESS_ACCUSES_U.S.),
[LACK OF SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, POVERTY, RESULTS OF
NAFTA](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_LACK_OF_SUSTAINABLE),
[CONTINUED CALLS FOR NAFTA
RENEGOTIATION](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_CONTINUED_CALLS_FOR),
[FARMERS GROUP PROPOSES LIMITING U.S. FOOD
PURCHASES](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_FARMERS_GROUP_PROPOSES),
[WORKERS GROUP BLAMES AG CRISIS ON MISGUIDED GOM
POLICIES](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_WORKERS_GROUP_BLAMES),
[CLAIMS THAT GOM NEGLECTED AGRICULTURAL
SECTOR](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_CLAIMS_THAT_GOM),
[BLAME FOR MEXICO'S AGRICULTURAL
WOES](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_BLAME_FOR_MEXICO’S),
[SOCIAL ILLS USED FOR POLITICAL
POSITIONING](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_SOCIAL_ILLS_USED),
[LOWER HOUSE APPROVES BILL LOWERING FUEL COSTS FOR AG
SECTOR](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_LOWER_HOUSE_APPROVES),
[THE 2003 BUDGET WILL KEEP THE 20% TAX ON BEVERAGES CONTAINING
HFCS](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_THE_2003_BUDGET)[,
BORDER SECURITY MEASURES COULD IMPEDE
TRADE](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_BORDER_SECURITY_MEASURES),
[U.S. OFFICIAL CLAIMS EFFECTS OF 2003 ON MIGRATION WILL BE
MINIMAL](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_U.S._OFFICIAL_CLAIMS),
[MEXICAN ORANGE PRODUCTION TO
DROP](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_MEXICAN_ORANGE_PRODUCTION),
[SLOW GROWTH FORECAST FOR MEXICAN
ECONOMY](../../../../../../../../C:/DOCUME~1/healj/Local%20Settings/Temp/c.lotus.notes.data/#_SLOW_GROWTH_FORECAST).

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Mexico \[MX1\], \[MX\]

**Welcome to Hot Bites from Mexico, a weekly review of issues of
interest to the U.S. agricultural community. The topics covered in this
report reflect developments in Mexico that have been garnered during
travel around the country, reported in the media, or offered by host
country officials and agricultural analysts. Readers should understand
that press articles are included in this report to provide insights into
the Mexican \"mood\" facing U.S. agricultural exporters. Significant
issues will be expanded upon in subsequent reports from this office.**

**DISCLAIMER: Any press summary contained herein does NOT reflect
USDA's, the U.S. Embassy's, or any other U.S. Government agency's point
of view or official policy.**

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

## SENATE STOPS MEASURE TO POSTPONE 2003 

The Senate intention of postponing by one year the lowering of
agricultural import duties under the Free Trade Agreement of North
America (NAFTA) was only a good wish. After meeting the entire day with
officials of the Secretariat of Economy (SE), lobbyists from the
agricultural private sector, as well as of diplomats of the Embassy of
the United States in Mexico, the senators issued a text that was
integrated as a transitory article in the Income Law. The text mentions
that the farming sector lives in an \"emergency situation\", and for
that reason the executive branch will have to strictly monitor the
development of certain agricultural imports from the United States and
Canada in 2003. \"When an increase in U.S. or Canadian imports occurs in
comparison with the previous year, which damages or could damage
domestic product, the executive branch will immediately initiate a
safeguard investigation into unfair trade practices, in accordance with
the Foreign Trade Law," the article indicates. The products to be
monitored are as follows: animal fats and oils; barley; malt; whole
fresh, chilled and frozen chicken; whole fresh, chilled and frozen
turkey; chicken MDM; pork hams, legs, cuts and carcass; potatoes. Under
NAFTA, the import duties of these products will be eliminated on January
1, 2003. (Source: El Financiero; 12/13/2002).

## FOX DECLARES NAFTA A SUCCESS

While campesinos opposed to the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) wreaked havoc in the capital with blockades, cows and
firecrackers, President Vicente Fox on Tuesday, December 10, 2003 said
Mexico should intensify commercial relations with its northern neighbor.
Speaking the day after NAFTA\'s 10th birthday party was celebrated in
Washington, Fox said the trade liberalization accord has been a
resounding success. \"Now we have to look ahead to the next 10 years,
not revel in the achievements of the last 10 years, and that is what we
are working out with the United States and Canada: a new vision for the
next 10 years,\" he told a group of international financiers. \"We have
to further the integration, to expand and strengthen our union,\" said
Fox, a member of the pro-business National Action Party (PAN). However,
analysts are divided over whether a decade of NAFTA has benefited the
majority of Mexicans. Advocates of the accord point to foreign trade,
which shot up from U.S.\$140 billion in 1994 to U.S.\$ 327 billion in
2001, and foreign direct investment which mushroomed to U.S.\$25 billion
last year. But NAFTA critics say the flood of cheap U.S. goods has
forced many Mexican products out of the domestic market, pushing up
unemployment. \"It is an asymmetrical treaty that imposes the same
conditions on two totally different countries,\" said Maria Atilano,
national coordinator of the Mexican Network Against Free Trade. Atilano
and other critics point to the agricultural sector, saying Mexican food
producers cannot compete with U.S. farmers, who are given some U.S.\$19
billion a year in subsidies. Mexico\'s agricultural trade deficit surged
to U.S.\$4.3 billion last year. Furthermore, in under three weeks,
tariffs on all products except corn, sugar and beans will be
eliminated - a prospect that has caused a wave of protests from
campesino groups and farm lobbies. (Source: The News; 12/11/2002)

## PRESIDENT FOX PROMOTES A NEW VISION OF NAFTA

At a meeting with the Association of International Financial
Institutions, President Fox, indicated that it is essential to promote a
new vision of NAFTA for the next decade and not just remain satisfied
with the current success. Mr. Fox said that this is what Mexico has been
talking and negotiating with the United States and Canada. He added that
his government's evaluation of NAFTA is highly positive because it has
contributed significantly to the domestic economy, generation of
employment, and a balance of trade of 375,000 million dollars. The
challenge is to convert that trade balance in concrete results for
individual incomes, and fight poverty and low education. (Source:
Reforma 12/11/02)

## MEXICO COULD ESTABLISH SAFEGUARDS ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

On December 12, 2002, the Senate approved the inclusion in the 2003
Budget Law of a transitory article that grants power to the executive
branch to establish safeguards for different agricultural products in
case the United States or Canada fall into antidumping practices. The
measure would apply 50 percent tariffs to those products or negotiate
the elimination of unfair practices. This modification has to be sent
and voted on by the Lower Chamber. The products protected under this
measure are: fats and animal oil products, barley, malt, whole poultry,
whole turkey, poultry ingredients, ham and ham shoulder, and pork cuts,
potatoes and carcass. The Secretariat of Economy will have to monitor
these products and turn in a monthly report to the Congress. (Source:
Excelsior 12/13/02).

## AGRICULTURE ARMOR OF THE LOWER CHAMBER

The Finance Committee of the Lower Chamber approved an article for the
2003 Income Law. This article states that additional tariff rate quotas
for U.S. corn, dry edible beans, sugar and milk powder under NAFTA will
be charged with an import duty. The executive branch will decide on the
exact amount of the import duty to be applied after having consulted
with the Mexican Council of Rural Development. This article still has to
be voted on by the entire whole of the Lower Chamber. Jeronimo
Gutierrez, an official of the Secretariat of Economy stated, however,
"it is practically a fact" that this article will be approved by the
Lower Chamber. These products will be protected -- through duties or
TRQ's -- under NAFTA up to 2008. (Source: El Financiero; 12/12/2002).

## PRESIDENT ASSURES FARMERS OF SUPPORT

On Monday, December 9, 2002, President Vicente Fox assured farmers in
Sonora that his government had not abandoned the nation\'s agricultural
producers, and would remain attentive to farmers as Mexico lowers trade
barriers next year. \"The countryside is a priority, and for those who
don\'t believe, there are distinct actions that prove it,\" Fox said.
Fox said his administration \"would not allow unfair trade practices\"
to affect farmers. Farmers have grown increasingly vocal in calling for
a renegotiation of agricultural free-trade accords with the United
States and Canada, where farmers receive far more government aid than
their Mexican counterparts. Moreover, Fox underlined the four main
elements of his government strategy on agriculture: 1) to increase the
competitiveness and quality of agriculture production; 2) to bring
agriculture growers near the consumers, and to obtain better prices for
their products; 3) to promote agricultural credits through the
Countryside Capitalization Law and 4) better inter-agency cooperation in
the government. (Source: Reforma, El Financiero, El Universal and The
News; 12/10/2002).

## NAFTA AUTHORS OPEN SUMMIT TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF FREE TRADE

The three architects of the NAFTA said that a free trade pact for the
Western Hemisphere is the logical next step. Former President George
Bush, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and former Mexican
President Carlos Salinas de Gotari, who were in office when NAFTA was
negotiated, reunited Monday, December 9, 2002 to open a conference
marking the 10th anniversary of its signing. Bush and the two other
NAFTA leaders agreed that their economies were doing better under NAFTA.
Canadian exports to Mexico and the United States increased 95 percent
and Mexico has surpassed Japan as the United States\' No. 2 trading
partner, Mulroney said. But some Latin American countries have
complained the United States has not been doing enough to open up
certain markets, particularly agricultural ones, in the hemispheric
trade talks. Mulroney agreed that opening agricultural markets was
necessary for the hemispheric trade agreement to work. Negotiators
\"need to guarantee access to our markets for the exports that matter
most for our partners, particularly the export of agricultural
commodities,\" said Mulroney, who held office from 1984-93. \"The rich
countries pay out more than 300 billion dollars a year in farm
subsidies, thereby \... killing off any hope for developing countries to
compete fairly,\" Mulroney said. A poll commissioned by the Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars, which organized the
conference, found that almost half of Americans believe the United
States has been a winner in the agreement. But in Mexico, 52 percent
believe they were losers in NAFTA and 47 percent of Canadians feel their
country was the loser.

**(Source: The News; 12/10/2002).**

## GOVERNORS CONFERENCE AGREES TO NOT OPEN NAFTA

**The National Conference of Governors (CONAGO) agreed to analyze the
viability of not renegotiating the agricultural chapter of NAFTA. This
proposal was submitted by the Governor of the State of Mexico, Arturo
Montiel, during a meeting held at Colima on Sunday, December 8, 2002.
The CONAGO members recognized that currently Mexico's trade balance with
the U.S. shows a surplus of U.S.\$25.0 billion. Also, the governors of
Baja California Sur, Durango, Guerrero, Hidalgo, State of Mexico,
Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, Quintana
Roo, Veracruz and Zacatecas, as well as the representatives of Chiapas,
Chihuahua, Mexico City and Sonora, said that they will insist on
increasing the federal budget for education, health and the countryside.
Arturo Montiel stated that it was not advisable to reopen NAFTA's
agricultural chapter, because of Mexico's trade surplus with the United
States. Moreover, he said, in order to face the 2003 agricultural
opening, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the market
mechanisms and to stimulate the internal market. (Source: El Sol de
Mexico; 12/9/2002).**

## FOX AGAINST NAFTA RENEGOTIATION; FOR SAFEGUARDS

President Fox said he would not seek the renegotiation of NAFTA to
protect the Mexican agricultural sector because this would not be
convenient for Mexico. President Fox met with local agriculture
producers in Sonora, where he promised the implementation of special
measures to protect Mexican farmers from the tariffs' elimination in
2003. (Source: Universal, Financiero, Jornada, Milenio; 12/10/02).

## USABIAGA PREDICTS 2003 WILL HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON AG SECTOR

Agriculture Secretary Javier Usabiaga minimized the impact of the
agriculture tariffs' elimination on Mexican agriculture in 2003 by
saying "nothing would happen." (Source: Reforma; 12/10/02).

## NAFTA POSITIVE FOR MEXICO, STATES DERBEZ

Economic Secretary Ernesto Derbez said that in spite certain operational
problems - especially those regarding agriculture - NAFTA had been very
positive for Mexico. (Source: Financiero; 12/10/02).

## ECONOMISTS, ACADEMICS, GOVERNMENT, DIFFER ON BENEFITS OF NAFTA

Joseph Stiglitz, the 2001 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics, said that
former Mexican President Carlos Salinas was correct to attribute
Mexico's 1995 economic recovery to NAFTA, not to the IMF. In a
contrasting article, Enrique Dussel, an economic researcher, said that
NAFTA could not evolve any more as a trade agreement, and that it was a
flawed treaty from the beginning because it was signed by an
authoritarian government. On the other hand, U.S. and Mexican academics
and former government officials involved with the signing of NAFTA said
the trade agreement had been successful, but that there was still a lot
of work pending. Sidney Weintraub said that in spite of certain flaws,
NAFTA continued to work for the region. (Source: Universal; 12/10/02;
Reforma; 12/11/02).

## SALINAS DEFENDS NAFTA AND FOX'S DESIRE FOR MIGRATION AGREEMENT

Former President Carlos Salinas said President Fox was right to insist
on the negotiation of a migration agreement with the United States.
Salinas said the U.S. economy needed migrants' labor and therefore,
their rights should be respected and they should be paid accordingly. He
said his administration spearheaded one of the most successful economic
upswings in the history of Mexico, and NAFTA was his greatest
accomplishment. Salinas also said it would be good for Mexico to pursue
a free-trade agreement with China. (Source: Reforma; Universal;
Financiero, Jornada, Milenio, Televisa; 12/10/02).

## SENATORS DENY PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES

In the face of lobbying efforts from the Secretariat of Economy and the
U.S. Embassy in Mexico to stop the initiative to postpone by one year
the elimination of tariffs as mandated under the agricultural chapter of
NAFTA, those Mexican senators involved denied that they had succumbed to
U.S. pressure. (Source: El Financiero, 12/16/02).

## CONGRESS ACCUSES U.S. OF UNFAIR TREATMENT

With only 15 days to go before the elimination of tariffs on
agricultural products under NAFTA, Mexican congressmen warned that the
United States "does not treat us as equals" and "not only does it impose
its own conditions on us, but is also threatens us." Under these
conditions, the "supposed partnership" between Mexico and the United
States "cannot continue and if it is not corrected, a break will be
inevitable", warned the President of the Special Commission for
Livestock, Arturo de la Garza. (Source: Milenio; 12/15/02).

## LACK OF SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, POVERTY, RESULTS OF NAFTA

Although the Economy Secretariat praised the benefits of NAFTA, the
Mexican Action Network on Free Trade has indicated that the NAFTA has
failed to bring about sustainable growth, and has increased poverty.
(Source: La Jornada; 12/13/02).

## CONTINUED CALLS FOR NAFTA RENEGOTIATION

Mexico\'s Ambassador before the European Union Porfirio Munoz Ledo said
he continues to believe that the NAFTA should be revised, and that
Mexico should turn to Europe as a counterbalance to the U.S. (Source: El
Universal; 12/13/02).

## FARMERS GROUP PROPOSES LIMITING U.S. FOOD PURCHASES

The National Association of Commercial Farm Producers (ANEC), along with
11 other farmers associations, presented a proposal to limit purchases
of food products from the United States and Canada. (Source: Financiero;
12/10/02).

## WORKERS GROUP BLAMES AG CRISIS ON MISGUIDED GOM POLICIES

Jorge Espina, president of the Mexican Employers Association (COPARMEX),
said he agreed with former President Salinas that NAFTA had promoted
Mexico's economic development, and that the agricultural crisis was the
result of misguided policies. (Source: Reforma; 12/10/02).

## CLAIMS THAT GOM NEGLECTED AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Armando Paredes, President of the National Agricultural Council, said
there were more grants for farmers during the Salinas administration,
but after NAFTA was signed the GOM forgot about agriculture. Similarly,
Sonora gubernatorial candidate Eduardo Bours said NAFTA allowed Mexico
to become one of the most attractive markets for foreign investment, and
that what was prescribed by the agreement regarding agriculture did not
cause the Mexican agricultural crisis, which he attributed to the lack
of effective GOM support. (Source: Reforma; 12/10/02).

## BLAME FOR MEXICO'S AGRICULTURAL WOES

Former PRI presidential candidate Francisco Labastida defended his
record as Agriculture Secretary during the Zedillo administration, and
accused former President Carlos Salinas of underestimating the impact of
NAFTA upon the agricultural sector when he negotiated NAFTA ten years
ago. (Source: Reforma; 12/13/02).

### 

## SOCIAL ILLS USED FOR POLITICAL POSITIONING

PAN chairman Luis Felipe Bravo charged that the PRI and the PRD are
using long standing social problems to destabilize the Fox
administration and to gain votes in the coming elections. (Source:
Milenio; 12/13/02).

## LOWER HOUSE APPROVES BILL LOWERING FUEL COSTS FOR AG SECTOR

The Chamber of Deputies approved the new Energy Law for Agriculture,
which intends to stimulate farming by lower gasoline, fuel oil, diesel,
and electricity prices. (Source: Reforma; 12/10/02).

## THE 2003 BUDGET WILL KEEP THE 20% TAX ON BEVERAGES CONTAINING HFCS

The Senate decided to keep in the 2003 Budget, the 20-percent tax on
beverages containing high fructose corn syrup that was voted for the
2002 Budget. This proposal has to be sent and voted on by the Lower
Chamber. (Source: Excelsior 12/13/02)

## BORDER SECURITY MEASURES COULD IMPEDE TRADE

According to international trade specialists, the USG "smart borders"
project could put the provisions of NAFTA to the test by hindering the
free passage of goods between Mexico and the United States. The
Department of Homeland Security has argued that new security measures
will not affect commerce along the Mexico-United States border. (Source:
Reforma; 12/13/02)

## U.S. OFFICIAL CLAIMS EFFECTS OF 2003 ON MIGRATION WILL BE MINIMAL

Deputy U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Moorhead downplayed predictions that
Mexican migration to the United States would increase as a result of the
elimination of agricultural tariffs in 2003. Moorhead said any effect
would be "temporary," and remarked that trade agreements had helped to
improve the economic situation of developing nations. (Source: Reforma;
12/13/02)

### 

## MEXICAN ORANGE PRODUCTION TO DROP

Raymundo Trevino, secretary of the Mexican Association of Citrus
Packers, warned that Mexican production of oranges would drop
drastically this year, and imports of U.S. oranges would increase due to
high temperatures in the growing season this year. (Source: Reforma;
12/12/02).

## SLOW GROWTH FORECAST FOR MEXICAN ECONOMY

According to estimates from the World Bank, the Mexican economy will
grow by only 1.3 percent this year, but it could reach 3 percent growth
next year. (Source: Universal, Financiero; 12/12/02).

**REPORTS SUBMITTED RECENTLY BY FAS/MEXICO CITY**

  --------- ---------------------------------------------- --------------
  Number    Title                                          Date

  MX2167    Weekly Highlights & Hot Bites, Issue #42       12/11/02

  MX2168    Mexico Establishes Testing Requirement for     12/11/02
            Listeria                                       

  MX2169    Tomato Annual Report                           12/11/02

  MX2170    Avocado Annual Report                          12/13/02

  MX2171    Abastur 2002 End of Show Report                12/17/02
  --------- ---------------------------------------------- --------------

We are available at **http://www.atomexico.gob.mx** or visit our
headquarter\'s home page at **http://www.fas.usda.gov** for a complete
selection of FAS\' worldwide agricultural reporting.

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