Mexico, US Coordinate Efforts to Resume Cattle Exports

Mexico and the United States are working on a medium-term plan to resume cattle exports, following the most recent border closure. The shutdown has prompted both countries to tighten prevention and control measures against the New World screwworm, with border states being the most affected.

Julio Berdegué, Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), reported that he met Brooke Collins, US Secretary of Agriculture, and Lauren Stump, Deputy Secretary, to discuss the next steps in combating the screwworm. He highlighted that both sides agreed on immediate actions and a medium-term strategy for eradicating and controlling the pest. “We aim to resume cattle exports in a stable and predictable way,” Berdegué wrote on his X account.

In a separate post, Berdegué thanked SuKarne for showing solidarity with Mexican producers by suspending beef imports from Nicaragua to prevent its distribution in Durango and other cattle-exporting states. “I sincerely thank SuKarne for its voluntary decision that the cattle arriving soon from Central America by ship will not enter Durango or any exporting state. Dialogue and collaboration always move us forward,” he added.

This decision came after local ranchers voiced concerns over the state’s sanitary status, following the arrival of a shipment of over 4,000 head of cattle in the municipality of Tlahualilo.

SuKarne stated that its foreign purchases represent only a minimal share of its domestic market operations and assured that all imports meet sanitary standards. The company also pointed out that maritime transport ensures controlled conditions and poses no risk to national animal health. Nevertheless, to prevent any impact on the export sector, SuKarne agreed not to send imported cattle to Durango or other exporting states while talks continue on reopening the northern border.

Meanwhile, Rogelio Soto, President, Cattle Ranchers' Association of Durango, emphasized that the strategy aims to avoid future incidents by redirecting imported cattle to facilities in states where sanitary status and ongoing negotiations with US authorities are not jeopardized.

These developments follow the reinstatement of the US border closure announced on July 9 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), after a new screwworm case was confirmed in Veracruz. Notably, this ban came just two days after cattle exports from Mexico’s border states had resumed. Under the new order, the USDA called for stricter controls on animal movement, heightened surveillance, and the application of scientifically proven containment measures, as reported by MBN.

Mexican authorities criticized the move as excessive, arguing that the United States failed to distinguish between affected and unaffected regions. Juan Carlos Anaya, Director, GCMA, noted that the outbreak occurred over 500km from the border and stressed that the restrictions unfairly harm cattle producers in northern Mexico, the country’s primary exporters, who have no connection to the affected areas.

Meanwhile, President Claudia Sheinbaum defended her administration’s response to the parasite, stating that Mexico has acted in accordance with scientific and sanitary protocols to contain the pest. She also emphasized that her government was not caught off guard by the case in Veracruz. “It occurred outside the previous containment zone in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where immediate livestock movement controls were deployed, and sterile flies were released as part of the strategy to prevent the screwworm’s spread,” she said.

Additionally, through the National Service of Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA), SADER conducted training workshops on screwworm prevention and control in northern Veracruz, with over 100 specialists attending. The initiative aims to strengthen the technical response capacity of federal and state personnel, as well as researchers, in the event of animal health emergencies.