Mexico.- The export of live cattle to the United States could resume in the coming months thanks to progress in the sterile fly program, a sanitary strategy aimed at controlling the screwworm, reported Álvaro Bustillos, head of the Regional Livestock Union of Chihuahua. The measure raises expectations in the livestock sector due to the economic consequences of the border closure.
Currently, more than 700,000 head of cattle remain stranded, affecting both Mexican producers and the U.S. market, which relies heavily on Mexican beef.
As part of the strategy, both countries agreed to renovate the sterile fly production plant in Chiapas, with an investment of 51 million dollars, of which the United States will contribute 21 million.
In Chihuahua, producer Javier Meléndez Cardona suggested that the U.S. decision may have been influenced by factors beyond sanitary concerns.
“Mexico has complied with all health and safety regulations. There is talk of a possible reopening in a couple of months. Hopefully, because we need that export flow for Chihuahua’s livestock industry to recover,” he said.
Economic impact of the closure
On July 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) once again closed the border to Mexican cattle imports after detecting a new case of screwworm in Veracruz. This was the third closure in just eight months and came only three days after the most recent reopening.
Producers warn that the situation is causing significant financial losses. José Alfonso Prieto Rodríguez, manager of a ranch near the border, explained that delays force them to keep animals longer, increasing feeding costs and affecting the domestic market.
“Cattle don’t wait. We have to buy food and grains every day, which adds financial pressure on producers and their families,” he said.
The issue was discussed during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to Mexico, where he met with President Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente. However, no timeline was announced for a potential reopening.
Source: Enfoque Noticias
