International News: Mexico rejects U.S. Cattle import ban over Screwworm concerns

Published by BBNTEAM at May 12, 2025

Posted: Monday, May 12, 2025. 10:45 am CST.

By Zoila Palma: Today, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pushed back against the U.S. suspension of cattle, horse, and bison imports from Mexico due to screwworm outbreaks, calling the move “unfair” and insisting Mexico has cooperated in pest control.

“Minister Berdegue has already spoken with [U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins] and proposed that it would only last 15 days to keep working, and we hope that this measure, which we consider unfair, will be lifted very soon,” Sheinbaum said.

According to Reuters, Rollins had announced Sunday that the suspension would be enforced on a “month-by-month” basis, citing continued risks from the New World screwworm, a parasite that can fatally damage livestock.

Sheinbaum dismissed U.S. concerns, saying, “We can’t be rushing to react to whatever’s said that day, especially from the U.S. agriculture secretary. Mexico is no one’s piñata.”

She added that she did not expect the ban to cause major economic harm if it remains limited to 15 days.

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