WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s administration warned on Saturday that it will restrict livestock imports from Mexico if that country’s government does not intensify its fight against a damaging pest called New World screwworm.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in a letter Saturday to her Mexican counterpart said that she "will restrict the importation of animal commodities" if those issues are not resolved by Wednesday.
Rollins’ letter, which she posted on the social media site X, said Mexico had limited one of the companies hired to conduct aerial spraying to eliminate the pest to flying only six days a week and had imposed "burdensome customs duties" on parts needed to keep its planes in the air.
Her threat comes against the backdrop of a global trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has ratcheted up tariffs on Mexico and other trading partners.
Screwworm can infest livestock, wildlife and in rare cases, people. Maggots from screwworm flies burrow into the skin of living animals, causing serious and often fatal damage.
Before screwworm’s discovery, Mexico had been the U.S.’s largest supplier of cattle. Last month, the U.S. imported 24,000 head of cattle from Mexico, down from about 114,000 a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The U.S. blocked Mexican livestock shipments in late November after the pest was discovered. It lifted that restriction in February based on new protocols for assessing the health of animals before they enter the country.
Rollins’ letter was first reported by Fox News.