In a letter to Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegué Sacristán, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins demanded the country eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft and waive customs duties on eradication equipment that is impairing the U.S. response to New World screwworm spread.
“Every delay in granting full operational authority and eliminating customs barriers undermines our collective ability to carry out this emergency response,” Rollins wrote.
She set a deadline of April 30 for Mexico to respond, threatening to impose animal import restrictions if the country did not take action. Mexico committed to eliminate the restrictions by the deadline, and ports will remain open to livestock imports.
“However if at any time these terms are not upheld, port closure will be revisited,” USDA said.
