U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today reported that Mexico has agreed to lift restrictions on USDA aircraft and waive customs duties on equipment for addressing the New World Screwworm (NWS). As a result, ports will continue to allow livestock imports. However, the closures could be reconsidered if the agreement's terms are not maintained. This development followed Secretary Rollins' letter to Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegue Sacristan, encouraging resolution of these restrictions.
Secretary Rollins expressed satisfaction with the collaboration from Mexico. "I am happy to share Mexico has continued to partner in emergency efforts to eradicate the New World Screwworm. This pest is a devastating threat to both of our economies, and I am pleased to work together with Mexico in good faith to protect the livelihoods of our ranchers and producers who would have been hurt by this pest," she emphasized. She acknowledged the continuous efforts by USDA and Mexican staff members: "At USDA we are working every day to keep pests and disease from harming our agricultural industry. I thank our frontline USDA staff and their counterparts in Mexico for their work to ensure the screwworm does not harm our livestock industry."
