After the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the suspension, for two weeks, of the importation of cattle through its southern border due to the screwworm plague, the president of Mexico , Claudia Sheinbaum , expressed her disagreement with the decision .
Sheinbaum called the measure unfair, although she trusted that the decision taken by the United States would not represent “significant losses” for the country.
“Mexico isn’t anyone’s piñata; what we have is collaboration and coordination, but there’s no subordination, nor can we just follow what the United States says every day,” he stated.
The president highlighted that the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , Julio Antonio Berdegué , has presented detailed reports on the actions implemented in the country to eradicate the screwworm and has maintained constant coordination with U.S. authorities.
Announcement with “immediate effect”
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced yesterday the suspension of live cattle imports along the U.S.-Mexico border “effective immediately” for 15 days, in response to the “continued and rapid” spread of the screwworm. She said that despite the efforts of both countries, the spread of the pest has not been halted.
“The United States and Mexico are continuing their efforts to intercept and eradicate bovine papillomavirus (BHPV) in Mexico and are working in good faith. However, despite these efforts and the resulting economic impact on both countries, there has been unacceptable northward expansion of BHPV, and additional measures are necessary to slow its spread,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The U.S. agency also reported that the import suspension will remain in place monthly until significant containment of the pest is achieved and that collaboration with Mexico will continue, including a review of data and metrics in two weeks.
On May 6 , the National Association of Federal Inspection Establishments (ANETIF) called on the Mexican government and industry to join efforts to combat the country’s screwworm infestation. Subsequently, on May 8 , 100 million sterile flies were released in coordination between the federal government and the United States Department of Agriculture to eradicate the pest.
Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21
