The Mexican government is preparing to import up to 132,000 tons of eggs to prevent a surge in prices as a consequence of a bird-flu outbreak in the western state of Jalisco, Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari said. The government is ready to suspend duties on egg imports from countries with which Mexico does not have free trade pacts, he told a press conference.

Turkey, Poland, China and Ukraine have been identified as countries that export eggs at competitive prices, the secretary said.