Sheinbaum Unveils Initiative to Boost Meat Production

During her visit to Coahuila as part of her first state-of-the-union tour, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the US border could soon reopen for Mexican cattle exports. She also discussed a proposal designed to boost domestic meat production in order to avoid potential sanctions related to the sale of live cattle amid the ongoing New World screwworm outbreak.

President Sheinbaum emphasized that her administration is actively working toward reopening the border, expressing confidence that this will happen soon. She stated that the situation is being managed in coordination with the agriculture ministries of both Mexico and the United States, with the goal of ensuring that the pest management strategy is based on technical criteria rather than subjective assessments.

Abel Ayala, President of the Coahuila Regional Cattle Union (UGRC), announced that starting Monday, Aug. 8, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) would resume field visits to different regions of Mexico to verify progress in controlling the New World screwworm. He explained that the resumption of cattle exports will depend on the results of these inspections, which will be conducted over seven to 10 days by 20 USDA officials divided into six delegations. If the evaluations are favorable, trade could restart within two to three additional weeks. 

President Sheinbaum also unveiled a series of proposals aimed at strengthening Mexico’s livestock industry. She reported that the governors of Sonora, Coahuila, and Durango, together with representatives of livestock associations, met with her to discuss options for addressing the impact of export restrictions. Together, they presented a joint proposal that includes expanding domestic cattle finishing operations and increasing beef production to supply both the domestic and export markets.

In this regard, she announced the launch of a new High-Quality Integrated Meat Production Center, which will enable Mexico to export beef products instead of live cattle, thereby avoiding sanctions linked to screwworm-related restrictions. For this initiative, Sheinbaum confirmed an allocation of MX$650 million (US$34.8 million) for Coahuila, in addition to the previously announced MX$700 million for Durango and MX$831 million for Sonora.

The president underscored that supporting small-scale producers is a top priority for her administration, as they have been most severely affected by the current situation. “With credit programs and coordinated support from state and federal governments, we will become a leading beef-producing nation in northern Mexico, delivering the highest quality,” she stated.

Screwworm Outbreak; Border Closure Timeline

The USDA initially closed the border to Mexican cattle exports on May 11, 2025, after detecting outbreaks of the New World screwworm. A gradual reopening was originally scheduled to begin on July 7, but a new case found in Veracruz prompted US authorities to reinstate the closure around July 9. 

At the time, Brooke Rollins, US Secretary of Agriculture, defended the decision, stating that the United States promised to remain vigilant and that it was necessary to pause the planned reopening in order to extend quarantine measures and eradicate the pest at its source. President Sheinbaum, however, called the decision totally exaggerated, emphasizing that Mexico has fully complied with agreed-upon scientific and sanitary protocols and clarified that detected cases are limited to southern border states.

Screwworm Status in the Southern Border

According to the California Department of Public Health, as of Sept. 3, 2025, the New World screwworm has been detected in seven southern states: Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Yucatan. 

To control the outbreak, more than 885 million sterile flies have been released since November 2024 from facilities in Tuxtla Gutierrez and Tapachula, Chiapas. Additionally, the Mexican government has installed over five Federal Verification and Inspection Points (PVIF) in Chiapas, Tabasco, and Veracruz.