US Resumes Mexican Livestock Imports After Yearlong Ban

The United States Department of Agriculture will resume livestock imports from Mexico on August 24, 2026, ending a ban imposed in May 2025 due to an outbreak of the New World screwworm fly. Initial imports will be restricted to the Douglas, Arizona, border crossing under strict controls to prevent the parasite's spread.

Inspection protocols include the use of radio-frequency identification tags, electronic readers, and trained dogs. The USDA will implement a phased quota system for daily cattle imports, starting at 700 animals and gradually increasing to 1,300.

The yearlong restriction caused significant economic disruption in both countries, leading to record-high beef prices and meat-processing plant closures in the U.S., while reducing income for Mexican ranchers by up to 40%. Mexico has since reduced active screwworm cases to 1,969 across 30 states.

Despite the reopening, some Mexican livestock leaders have criticized the new restrictions. Juan David Ochoa, President of the Regional Livestock Union of Sonora, argued that the U.S. protocols are based on political rather than technical reasoning and limit the cattle flow needed to address regional supply shortages.