What is the story about?
What's Happening?
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has criticized Mexico's handling of a screwworm outbreak near the U.S. border, citing inadequate cattle movement controls and fly trap monitoring. The outbreak in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, poses a significant risk to the U.S. beef industry, potentially affecting billions of dollars in trade. The USDA has sent staff to the region to assess the situation, and the U.S. has invested $21 million in a facility in Mexico to produce sterile flies to control the screwworm population.
Why It's Important?
The screwworm outbreak has heightened tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, impacting livestock trade and the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. The situation underscores the importance of cross-border cooperation in managing agricultural pests and maintaining trade relations.
What's Next?
Reopening the border to livestock trade depends on Mexico's compliance with surveillance protocols. The U.S. continues to monitor the situation closely, and further diplomatic discussions may be necessary to resolve the issue.
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