Mexico Condemns US Cattle Import Ban as “Excessive” Response to Screwworm Case
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sharply criticized the United States’ decision to ban cattle imports from Mexico, calling the measure “exaggerated” during a Thursday press conference. The ban follows confirmation of a New World screwworm case in Mexico’s Veracruz state.
Sheinbaum described the US response as economically damaging and disproportionate to the single detected case. The screwworm outbreak prompted immediate action from US agricultural authorities, who reimposed import restrictions to prevent the parasite’s spread across the border.
New World screwworm poses serious threats to livestock, as the parasite’s larvae feed on living tissue of warm-blooded animals. The pest was previously eradicated from the United States through decades of coordinated control efforts with Mexico.
The trade dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the neighboring countries over agricultural policies. Mexico’s cattle industry faces significant economic losses from the sudden border closure, affecting thousands of ranchers and related businesses.
US officials maintain the ban protects American livestock from potential infestation. However, Mexican authorities argue the response exceeds necessary precautions for containing the outbreak.
The screwworm case represents the first confirmed detection in the region in recent years. Both countries previously collaborated on successful eradication programs, making the current diplomatic friction particularly notable.
Trade negotiations between the two nations will likely focus on establishing protocols for resuming cattle imports while maintaining biosecurity standards.
