In early November, USDA conducted a trade mission to Mexico to further trade ties and discuss New World Screwworm (NWS) response measures. Led by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, a total of 41 businesses, 33 co-operators and agriculture advocacy groups, six state departments of agriculture and 150 participants conducted more than 500 meetings over three days, the department said.
“I thank President Claudia Sheinbaum for welcoming me to the Presidential Palace where we had a productive and positive conversation about how we will continue to work closely together to eradicate the NWS which is negatively impacting both our economies, including conducting a comprehensive joint review of our NWS response and efforts to ensure enforcement of our joint responsibilities in the 1944 water treaty,” Rollins said in a news release.
Rollins also met with Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality to discuss bilateral efforts to combat the spread of NWS. Rollins was joined by Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins and visited the state of Chiapas to review NWS containment practices and enforcement.
USDA also announced the opening of a NWS sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico, which will allow USDA to aerially disperse sterile flies across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo León, where NWS cases were found. Until now, aerial dispersal has been limited to southern Mexico.
“The facility will ensure flexibility and responsiveness in northern Mexico, giving us a greater ability to drop sterile flies and continue to push the pest south,” Rollins said.
Rollins and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg also visited a Walmart Super Center in Mexico City and Bimbo Bakery, which are major importers of U.S. products.
Also on the trip were Chanel Tewalt, director of Idaho State Department of Agriculture; Sherry Vinton, director of Nebraska Department of Agriculture; Derek Sandison, director of Washington State Department of Agriculture; and officials from the California, Tennessee and Wisconsin state departments of agriculture.
USDA said that Mexico was the top market for U.S. ag exports in 2024, with shipments valued at $30.2 billion. Consumer-oriented products such as meat and dairy products, processed foor, fruits and beverages, accounted for about 50% of that trade. Bulk commodity exports accounted for one-third of all ag exports, valued at $10 billion.
“This week was an incredible opportunity to connect buyers and sellers with over 500 meetings over three days, pushing for American exports into Mexico’s ethanol market, and discuss the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” Rollins said. — Anna Miller Fortozo, WLJ managing editor
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