Outgoing U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegué summarizing efforts to restore cattle trade between the two countries. Trade was suspended on November 22,2024 due to detection of New World Screwworm.

Since then, progress has been made, but there is more to do. Technical collaboration between the United States and Mexico resulted in agreement on protocols for addressing New World Screwworm by December 12,2024. Vilsack urged Mexico to expedite necessary modifications pre-export facilities on order to maintain a stable and affordable food supply.

The U.S. has used emergency funding to fivefold increase sterile fly production to battle New World Srewworm. Mexico has also been releasing sterile flies to prevent New World Srewworm expansion into Northern regions. Vilsack urged support for establishing two new sterile fly dispersal centers in Southern Mexico.

To resume trading, facility inspections need to be finalized along with a seven-day quarantine.

Read more about efforts to reopen cattle trading between Mexico and the United States here.