U.S. to Lift Screwworm Ban on Mexican Cattle

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin a phased reopening of Mexican cattle imports on August 24 at the Douglas, Arizona port of entry, after a yearlong ban due to the detection of New World screwworm. The ban was put in place to prevent the spread of the deadly parasite, which can kill cattle within days if left untreated. The reopening could help ease record beef prices and a historic U.S. cattle shortage, as Mexico previously supplied around 1 million cattle annually. Every imported animal will undergo a full USDA inspection to ensure it is free of any signs of New World screwworm. Two additional ports of entry in New Mexico will also resume shipments later. The move is expected to benefit domestic meat processors who have been paying higher prices to compete for scarce cattle, and could help normalize business for cattle operations throughout the border states and Southern Plains. The trade between the U.S. and Mexico could also help address high beef prices, which have continued to top records despite efforts by the Trump administration to tamp down food inflation. A total of 42 cases of screwworm have been detected in the U.S., with only nine currently active. The USDA has been working with state, local, and industry partners to control the spread of the pest, and the reopening of the border is seen as a major step towards addressing the cattle shortage and high beef prices.