RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — In a major blow to Brazil, the United States on Thursday announced the immediate suspension of all imports of beef products from Latin America's largest nation because of safety concerns.

The decision by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue came three months after a major scandal into allegations of bribed meat inspectors shook Brazil's meat industry and prompted several countries to temporarily halt imports.

In a statement, Perdue said that since March, U.S. inspectors have refused entry to 11 percent of Brazilian fresh beef products, about 1.9 million pounds.

"That f...