US Cautions on Border Reopening Despite Mexican Efforts

US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the United States is not yet prepared to reopen its border to Mexican cattle, which has been largely closed since May due to an outbreak of the New World screwworm parasite. However, Rollins expressed satisfaction with Mexico's recent efforts to contain the pest.

Rollins, who was in Mexico City for meetings that included President Claudia Sheinbaum, told Reuters in an interview that President Donald Trump was "very focused" on reopening the border.

"We are still not at the point where I am comfortable opening the ports, but I think every day that goes by, we get a little bit closer," Rollins said. "I want to have every confidence that we have overturned every stone, that we understand every nuance, that we are deploying every tool in the toolkit."

The Secretary declined to provide a timeframe for the reopening. She is scheduled to discuss the issue with top US officials and President Trump later this week.

Containment Efforts and Risks

The screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow through living flesh, has spread northward from Central America. Although US officials maintain the pest has not yet breached the US border, the outbreak threatens the livestock and beef industries of both nations. The US Department of Agriculture estimates the pest could cause US$1.8 billion (MX$33.4 billion) in damage to Texas' economy alone.

Rollins, who previously criticized Mexico in September for insufficient measures to stop the spread, said the current efforts of both countries represent "a completely different, more sophisticated, impressive operation" compared to the spring. She called the collaboration between the two nations' agriculture departments the "most collaborative effort, perhaps in our lifetime." She said Mexican officials "have taken it very seriously" and was "very impressed" with Sheinbaum.

The Secretary confirmed there have been 11 contained and treated cases of screwworm in Mexican states bordering the United States in recent months. She emphasized that the key objective is "keeping the screwworm away from the southern border of America."

Illegal Cattle Movement and Market Impact

Rollins identified the illegal movement of cattle as a "big issue" that requires further attention. Smuggled animals may originate from Central American nations like Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, often using counterfeit ear tags and forged documents. Rollins acknowledged that Mexico has implemented new protections and checkpoints to better control illicit livestock trade.

The border closure has compounded the already tight cattle supply situation in the US, where beef prices have risen to records as herd sizes have declined to their lowest in decades. Approximately 250,000 head of cattle are currently waiting south of the US border to enter, Rollins noted.

However, the Secretary stressed that rising beef prices are a "non-factor" in the decision to reopen the border. "I think that we can never compromise the safety of the herd for the cost," she said, warning that a premature reopening could lead to higher costs later if the screwworm devastates the US cattle industry.