‘We at the moment are at a essential inflection level in our shared marketing campaign in opposition to this pest, and I’m very involved about our collaboration,’ the secretary stated.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) stated on April 27 that it’ll limit livestock imports from Mexico if it doesn’t ramp up its struggle in opposition to a threatening pest generally known as New World screwworm.
“We at the moment are at a essential inflection level in our shared marketing campaign in opposition to this pest, and I’m very involved about our collaboration,” Rollins wrote.
“The outbreak in southern Mexico continues to increase, and day-after-day that passes with out full deployment of sterile insect approach operations represents a misplaced alternative to include this pest and forestall its unfold past the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.”
Screwworms are recognized to contaminate livestock, wildlife, and, in some uncommon instances, people. Screwworm fly maggots burrow into the pores and skin of residing animals and might typically inflict severe or deadly injury.
Within the letter, Rollins stated that Mexico had allowed solely one of many firms employed to hold out aerial spraying for killing the pest to fly six days per week whereas additionally imposing “burdensome customs duties” on elements required to maintain its planes within the air.
Rollins’s letter was despatched throughout heightened commerce tensions between america and Mexico after the Trump administration levied 25 % tariffs on its southern neighbor earlier this yr over its failure to stem the trafficking of lethal opioids into america.
Items topic to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement are exempt from the tariffs.
The screwworm is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and South American nations. In recent times, instances have additionally unfold to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and now Mexico.
Earlier than the invention of screwworm, Mexico was the biggest provider of cattle to america. In March, 24,000 head of cattle had been imported from Mexico, down from roughly 114,000 in March 2024, in keeping with the USDA.
The company quickly blocked Mexican livestock shipments in November 2024 after the pest was found. On the time, the USDA stated it was working with Mexico to implement measures to proceed the traditional movement of the nation’s exports.
“To deal with this rising concern throughout our livestock, farming, and wildlife industries, we urge the USDA to work with state, native, and related business stakeholders to proactively tackle this rising menace—together with contemplating the feasibility of building a sterile fly manufacturing facility in Texas or the Southwest.”
Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.