MEXICAN BEEF EXPORTERS LOOK TO THE MIDDLE EAST

The potential for a U.s.-mexico trade war under President Donald Trump has accelerated efforts by Mexican beef producers to explore alternative foreign markets to the United States. This has firms looking to the Middle East, where most meat is imported from non-muslim countries, using animals slaughtered by the halal method prescribed by Islamic law. As the world's sixth biggest beef producer, Mexico plans to quadruple exports of halal beef to 44 million pounds (20,000 tons) by the end of 2018 from 11 million pounds (5,000 tons) this year, according to data from the Mexican cattle growers association, AMEG. The country should have 15 plants certified to produce halal meat by the end of next year. Targeted markets include Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Lebanon.