The North American Renderers Association (NARA) has submitted formal comments for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review and requested to testify at a public hearing scheduled for November 17, 2025.
NARA's submission addresses Mexico's 16% value-added tax on imported feed ingredients, which the organization says puts U.S. renderers and their Mexican supply-chain partners at a competitive disadvantage.
NARA noted the rendering industry is deeply integrated across North America — U.S. processors, Mexican importers, feed mills, and downstream‐users all rely on seamless trade flows. By raising this issue, NARA seeks to actively defend the interests of its members and their customers and ensure a level playing field.
"As the voice for the rendering industry, NARA is stepping up — not just to talk about trade in general, but to call out what we believe is a clear barrier: Mexico's tax on feed‐ingredient imports, which places U.S. renderers and their Mexican supply-chain partners at a competitive disadvantage," said Dana Johnson Dowing, NARA's SVP of International Programs. "We have made our case in our written submission, and we've asked for the opportunity to present directly at the hearing to ensure our industry's interests are heard."
NARA said its comments present evidence that the tax undermines the cross-border value chain that U.S. renderers and their Mexican customers depend on. The submission argues the tax violates USMCA provisions on fair treatment, market access and non-discrimination, including articles governing national treatment and non-tariff barriers.
The comments include recommendations to the Office of the United States Trade Representative ahead of the Joint Review: improved monitoring and enforcement of compliance, deeper regulatory alignment with Mexico, and strengthened transparency for trade in rendered by-products and feed ingredients.
The public hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2025, starting at 10 a.m. EST in the main hearing room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. At the time of this release it is unclear if the scheduled hearing will be held if the lapse in federal funding and government shutdown continues into mid-November.
NARA said it will advise members and their Mexican partners on developments and coordinate follow-up messaging as the countries advance the Joint Review, targeted for July 1, 2026.
