U.S. not ready to accept cattle from Mexico yet due to New World Screwworm

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says her country is not yet ready to reopen its border to Mexican cattle amid an outbreak of the flesh-eating New World screwworm parasite.

However, she is pleased with Mexico’s efforts to contain the pest.

Rollins, in Mexico City for meetings with officials including President Claudia Sheinbaum, said that President Donald Trump was “very focused” on reopening the border, which has been largely closed to Mexican livestock since May.

Rollins, who declined to give a time frame for reopening the border, said she would speak to top U.S. officials about the issue on Wednesday and would have more conversations about screwworm with Trump.

Mexico has been working to contain the outbreak, which has spread northward from Central America, rattling the livestock and beef industries of both the U.S. and Mexico.