US bans Mexican tuna after seizure of a boat

The United States banned imports of Mexican tuna and tuna products Monday as a result of Mexico's seizure of a US tuna boat. The State Department said the ban was automatic under a 1976 law requiring imports to be cut off from a country that seizes a US fishing vessel in territorial waters the US does not recognize.

According to the department, the US tuna vessel was seized 30 miles offshore by Mexican authorities for allegedly fishing without a license within a 200-mile zone claimed by Mexico. The US imports about $20 million of tuna products from Mexico each year.