Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticised the United States for what she describes as an “exaggerated” response following Washington’s decision to suspend cattle imports from Mexico due to concerns over the flesh-eating screwworm pest.
Speaking at her regular morning press briefing on Thursday, Sheinbaum said the move to halt cattle trade across the border was not proportionate to the threat posed. “From our point of view, it is a totally exaggerated decision to close the border again,” she stated.
The US government took the action after a recent detection of screwworm closer to the US-Mexico border, prompting renewed biosecurity concerns. However, Sheinbaum maintained that the decision was based on a single newly reported case in Mexico.
The flesh-eating screwworm, known for infesting warm-blooded animals, poses a serious threat to livestock and has historically been the focus of joint eradication efforts between the US and Mexico.
While no official response has yet come from US authorities addressing Sheinbaum’s remarks, the suspension is expected to affect Mexico’s livestock sector and broader agricultural trade dynamics.
Melissa Enoch
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