International News: U.S. Department of Agriculture announces phased reopening of cattle imports from Mexico

By Zoila Palma:  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans for a phased reopening of southern U.S. ports to livestock trade, beginning August 24, 2026, following a year-long closure aimed at preventing the spread of New World screwworm (NWS). The Douglas, Arizona, port of entry, which borders Sonora, Mexico, will reopen first, while operational preparations will begin for the potential reopening of the Santa Teresa and Columbus ports in New Mexico. Every animal entering the United States through the reopened ports will undergo a full USDA inspection to ensure it shows no signs of NWS. “Protecting the United States from NWS and pushing this pest out of Mexico and back to the Darien Gap is a top priority at USDA and has the full attention of the Trump Administration,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said. She added that the closure of southern ports had been “a tough but necessary action to control the spread of NWS in Mexico and protect the American livestock industry.” USDA said Sonora and Chihuahua have been identified as the lowest-risk Mexican states for NWS because of their established animal health and inspection programs and their distance from southern Mexico, where most cases are concentrated. The USDA said the closest active case to the Douglas port was approximately 325 miles away, detected on July 22, 2026. “Thanks to the work across the federal government as well as state, local, and industry partners, it is now safe to reopen the Douglas, Arizona, port in 30 days to resume the hundreds year old movement of cattle,” Rollins said. The reopening process will remain flexible and dependent on Mexico’s progress in meeting milestones under the Joint Action Plan. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will evaluate the results of the initial reopening before considering the resumption of live cattle, bison and horse trade through Santa Teresa and Columbus. However, USDA warned that port reopenings could be paused if increased NWS risks are identified in Sonora or Chihuahua through post-opening audits or other information. The post International News: U.S. Department of Agriculture announces phased reopening of cattle imports from Mexico appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.