U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Demands Mexico Cooperate to Protect U.S. Agricultural Products from Invasive Pests; Threatens Port Closures

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins sent a letter to her counterpart in Mexico demanding Mexico eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft and waive customs duties on eradication equipment that are critically impairing the U.S. response to spread of the New World Screwworm.

Read the Letter (PDF, 1.3 MB)

Secretary Rollins wrote, “Every delay in granting full operational authority and eliminating customs barriers undermines our collective ability to carry out this emergency response.”

Additionally, Secretary Rollins informed the government of Mexico, “…that if these issues are not resolved by Wednesday, April 30, USDA will restrict the importation of animal commodities, which consist of live cattle, bison, and equine originating from or transiting Mexico to protect the interest of the agriculture industry in the United States.”

The USDA continues to take all necessary action to stop the spread of New World Screwworm in southern Mexico to protect America’s livestock industry, food supply, and wildlife populations before it reaches the U.S. border. New World Screwworm (NWS) is a deadly parasitic fly that infests warm-blooded animals, causing severe wounds and complications that can lead to death. A NWS infestation in the U.S. will result in significant losses to livestock industries. The U.S. successfully led the eradication of NWS in the U.S. and Mexico, but recent detections in Mexico show that this dangerous pest is back and remains a serious threat. Ongoing vigilance and control efforts are critical to prevent its spread northward and protect animal health and agriculture.