Julio BerdeguéSecretary dand Mexico agricultureannounced that the United States government, through its Secretariat of Agriculture, Brooke Rollinshe informed him this Sunday that they will close the border for 15 days to the importation of cattle due to the problem of barely worm.
“A few minutes ago I spoke with the US Secretary of Agriculture. He informed me that the border would close to the export of cattle standing for 15 days to review the joint strategy against the borerning worm”Said the Mexican official.
Berdegué expressed the disagreement of the Mexican government with this measure, however, he hoped that in these fifteen days they can reach a new agreement with the administration of the President Donald Trump.
The measure took for surprise to the sader Because just days before they had reached a mutual agreement to deal together with plague that affects cattle.
last Thursday, May 8, the authorities of both countries agreed to strengthen the campaign against the borer worm through concrete actions: the reopening of border crossings to export cattle, the creation of a plant to produce sterile flies – a key method to control the reproduction of the insect – and the exchange of data between specialized institutions.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) stressed that this scheme represents an unprecedented bilateral effort in the fight against this plague.
Before the initial refusal of the Mexican government to allow the requested air operations, American officials had considered the possibility of completely stopping livestock imports from Mexico.
-The 37.8% increase in exports of Mexican cattle to the US market, which added 1.3 million heads in the 2023-2024 cycle, contrasts with the recent tension generated by the Barrenador worm, a plague that threatens both the livestock sector and public health in the region. Only last November, the United States had temporarily suspended these imports after the discovery of outbreaks of this insect, even related to the death of a 77 -year -old woman in Chiapas by Miasis.
The situation climbed when the US government proposed to carry out air operations to control the plague within the Mexican territory, something that Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico, described as “excessive.” In statements on April 28, Sheinbaum made it clear that Mexico was open to collaborate, but not under external impositions. That same day, the Mexican government claimed to have resolved “satisfactorily” the differences with its main commercial partner, when they agree on joint measures to stop and eradicate the insect.
The 37.8% increase in exports of Mexican cattle to the US market, which added 1.3 million heads in the 2023-2024 cycle, contrasts with the recent tension generated by the Barrenador worm, a plague that threatens both the livestock sector and public health in the region.
Only last November, the United States had temporarily suspended these imports after the discovery of outbreaks of this insect, even related to the death of a 77 -year -old woman in Chiapas by Miasis.
The situation climbed when the US government proposed to carry out air operations to control the plague within the Mexican territory, something that Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico, described as “excessive.”
In statements on April 28, Sheinbaum made it clear that Mexico was open to collaborate, but not under external impositions. That same day, the Mexican government claimed to have resolved “satisfactorily” the differences with its main commercial partner, when they agree on joint measures to stop and eradicate the insect.
The outbreak of the boreride worm not only puts the livestock economy at risk, but also raises challenges in terms of health and safety within Mexican agricultural policies, a topic that will continue under international scrutiny while both governments work to mitigate their effects.
