US to resume Mexican cattle imports through Arizona after yearlong screwworm ban

The United States is set to resume Mexican livestock imports on Aug. 24 through the Douglas, Arizona, border crossing, which connects with Agua Prieta in Sonora, after a yearlong suspension linked to the New World screwworm parasite. The reopening will initially be limited to 700 cattle a day, rising to 900 in the second week and eventually 1,300, with additional ports potentially allowed if the process goes smoothly. Mexican cattle must carry radio-frequency identification tags and pass electronic-reader and trained-dog screening, with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials conducting inspections before entry. Mexico has 1,969 active screwworm cases across 30 of its 32 states, including a first case in Sonora, while authorities continue to battle infections in Texas and New Mexico. Mexico’s cattle-export industry, which generated $1.2 billion last year and previously sent about 1.2 million head annually to the United States, has suffered after ranchers were forced to sell domestically at prices nearly 40% below U.S. levels. The disruption has also intensified a U.S. cattle shortage, contributed to meat-processing cutbacks and helped push beef prices to records. The phased reopening has revived debate over animal-health safeguards, market access and protectionism, while Mexican producers argue that greater trade is needed to address supply shortages in both countries.

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