US-Mexico Cattle Trade
US Resumes Limited Mexican Cattle Imports Amid Screwworm Concerns and Biosecurity Debate
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Key Points
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Rollins signaled a phased reopening of the Douglas, Arizona port beginning August 24, with an expectation that the port could be re-opened within about 30 days to resume cattle movement.
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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller described the binational New World Screwworm Summit with partners in Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico as producing broad agreement that the best path forward is science-based cooperation and proven biosecurity to protect animal health while preserving agricultural trade.
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Miller argued that the USDA’s pace and scale of the screwworm eradication effort have not matched the threat, calling for a sustained, aggressive use of every proven eradication tool and warning against half-measures that would jeopardize billions of dollars in livestock production.
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Politico reports intra-administration tensions over border policy, noting that some USDA officials favored more imports while Secretary Rollins defended reopening, illustrating broader debates between livestock biosecurity and trade priorities.
The U.S. will resume limited imports of Mexican cattle starting August 24, with a phased reopening of the Douglas, Arizona border port, according to KSAT. The move comes as 42 screwworm cases have been reported in the U.S., nearly all of them in Texas.
The New World Screwworm is a flesh-eating parasite that can kill livestock. The USDA says it will expand the reopening to other ports if Mexico follows a joint action plan. Sonora and Chihuahua, identified as the lowest-risk Mexican states, are first in line for the phased restart, Texas Tribune reported.
Douglas Port Reopens August 24 in Phased Restart
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the phased reopening, beginning at the Douglas, Arizona port on August 24. The full reopening is expected to take about 30 days. KVIA reports the restart will also include the Santa Teresa, New Mexico port as part of the phased plan.
The USDA says other ports will follow as long as Mexico sticks to the joint action plan. The plan focuses on cattle movement from Sonora and Chihuahua first, since those states carry the lowest screwworm risk. Officials say the goal is to protect livestock while keeping trade open.
42 U.S. Screwworm Cases, Nearly All in Texas
The USDA has confirmed 42 screwworm cases in the U.S., with all but one located in Texas, according to Yahoo News. The New World Screwworm lays eggs in open wounds on animals. The larvae then burrow into living tissue, which can be fatal if untreated.
The outbreak prompted the U.S. to shut down Mexican cattle imports earlier this year. Officials say the joint action plan with Mexico includes biosecurity checks and monitoring to stop the parasite from spreading further north.
Texas Commissioner Calls USDA Response Too Slow
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller welcomed the resumption of imports but pushed for faster action. He said the USDA's pace has "not matched the threat" and called for a "sustained, aggressive use of every proven eradication tool." Miller warned that half-measures could "jeopardize billions of dollars in livestock production."
Miller described a recent binational New World Screwworm Summit with partners from Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico as a step forward. He said the summit produced broad agreement that science-based cooperation is the best path. But he made clear that words must be backed by action, according to Click2Houston.
Intra-Administration Tensions Over Trade and Biosecurity
Not everyone inside the administration agrees on how to handle the situation. Some USDA officials pushed for more imports, while Secretary Rollins defended the limited, phased reopening. The divide reflects a broader tension between protecting livestock health and keeping agricultural trade flowing.
Texas Tribune reported that the debate inside the administration mirrors a wider national argument over border policy, animal safety, and economic priorities. The phased plan is meant to balance all three, but critics like Miller say the balance still tilts too far toward caution over action.
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