By Kylie Madry

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican authorities will kick off audits of 14 Brazilian meatpacking plants next month to clear them to send exports to Mexico, Luis Rua, secretary of trade at Brazil’s agriculture ministry, told Reuters.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

In August, Mexico overtook the U.S. as the No. 2 buyer of Brazil’s beef as U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods took effect. Brazil is the world’s top beef exporter.

KEY QUOTE

“There will be an audit in September, Mexico’s sanitary agency will go to Brazil and hopefully soon these 14 (meatpacking plants) will be approved,” Rua told Reuters on the sidelines of an event in Mexico City.

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

The news was first reported by Brazilian outlet Estadao. According to the report, the plants belong to meatpacking majors such as

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