On Monday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a phased
reopening of southern ports for livestock trade as progress in several critical areas has been
made since the closures on May 11. Re-openings of the ports for cattle, bison and equine from
Mexico will begin with Douglas, Arizona, as early as July 7, followed by ports in New Mexico and
Texas.
“TCFA welcomes Secretary Rollins’ announcement to resume imports of Mexican feeder cattle.
We express our appreciation to Secretary Rollins, USDA-APHIS Administrator Michael Watson
and the entire USDA-APHIS team who have worked tirelessly to conduct a science-based
assessment and implement risk-based strategies in response to the incursion of New World
Screwworm in southern Mexico,” stated TCFA Chairman Robby Kirkland. “Secretary Rollins’
leadership and focus on this issue has been second to none and the decisive actions taken
today ensure protection of the U.S. herd, while at the same time allowing for commerce to
continue under stringent animal health inspection and treatment protocols. Today’s decision will
provide beef supply chain stability and mitigate price volatility and food inflation – directly
benefiting U.S. consumers for the foreseeable future.”
Since the most recent closure on May 11, USDA has worked tirelessly with Mexico on their|
NWS response. In this time, USDA has consistently dispersed more than 100 million sterile flies
each week. Additionally, USDA stated that it sent five teams of APHIS staff to visit/observe and
gain a deeper understanding of Mexico’s NWS response and allow them the opportunity to
share feedback. During this time, there has not been a notable increase in reported NWS cases
in Mexico, nor any northward movement of NWS over the past eight weeks.
USDA will reopen the southern ports one at a time. The second port scheduled for reopening is
Columbus, NM, on July 14, followed by Santa Teresa, NM, on July 21, Del Rio, Texas, on Aug.
18 and Laredo, Texas, on Sept. 15. USDA stated that the phased approach allows for evaluation
to ensure no adverse effects arise after each opening.
Cattle and beef trade between the U.S. and Mexico has provided mutual benefits, and
agricultural trade with Mexico has increased substantially under the USMCA free trade
agreement negotiated by President Trump during his first term.
For decades, Mexican feeder cattle have crossed into the U.S. every year under stringent
import protocols overseen by USDA-APHIS to ensure cattle are free of disease and pests. From
1930-2024, Mexican feeder cattle imports averaged more than 700,000 head per year and
averaged 1.15 million head per year in the last 25 years.
On a per head basis, total U.S. beef and variety meat export value averaged $415 per fed head
harvested in 2024. Korea, Japan, China and Mexico are the top markets for U.S. beef and
variety meats. In 2024, exports to Mexico represented $53.41 export value per head.
TCFA will continue to engage with Secretary Rollins and USDA-APHIS leadership to support
their response efforts.
