U.S. suspends Mexican cattle, horse and bison imports over New World screwworm
Washington | Reuters — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Sunday said she is suspending imports of live cattle, horses and bison through the southern U.S. border over the damaging pest New World screwworm, a measure that immediately drew opposition from Mexico.
Why it matters: Cattle supplies in the U.S. and Canada are already extremely tight. A ban on Mexican cattle will further restrict supplies, potentially pushing already record-high prices to further heights.
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“I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse, & bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately,” Rollins said. “The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover. This cannot happen again.”
Her Mexican counterpart, Julio Berdegue, swiftly rebuked the action, but said he hoped the two countries could soon come to an agreement over the pest, known as NWS.
“We don’t agree with this measure,” he said in a post on social media, adding that it would be in place for 15 days.
Efforts not sufficient, U.S. says
The U.S. agriculture agency in a statement on Sunday said the suspension would be in effect on a “month-by-month basis.”
The U.S. and Mexico last month reached an agreement on the handling of the damaging pest, which can infest livestock and wildlife and carry maggots that burrow into the skin of living animals, causing serious and often fatal damage.
The U.S. agriculture agency in a statement said the efforts so far were not sufficient, and acknowledged “an economic impact” on both countries due to the suspension.
“There has been unacceptable northward advancement of NWS and additional action must be taken to slow the northern progression of this deadly parasitic fly,” USDA said.
It said the pest had been detected in Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles (1,127 km) from the U.S. border.
Mexico speaks out
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that her nation did not agree with the U.S.’ decision to suspend Mexican imports of cattle, horses and bison over the presence of the New World screwworm, adding that Mexico had shown collaboration in eradicating the pest.
Sheinbaum, speaking in a regular press conference, added that she hoped the suspension would not represent a significant economic hit to Mexico, as it should only last 15 days.
On Monday morning, Chicago live cattle futures were trading up on either side of one cent per pound. Feeder cattle futures were up around three cents per pound.
— Reporting by Joey Roulette, Lizbeth and Kylie Madryñ
Source: Farmtario.com