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Mexico to Resume Cattle Exports to US as Sterile Fly Program Launches
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a phased reopening of its southern cattle ports, starting on 24 August 2026 with the Douglas, Arizona entry point, followed by Santa Teresa and Columbus in New Mexico. The reopening is conditioned on Mexico’s adherence to a joint action plan to contain the New World screwworm.
Mexico’s government confirmed that live cattle shipments will restart in the last weeks of August 2026, beginning at the Agua Prieta crossing in Sonora and later adding two additional points in Chihuahua. President Claudia Sheinbaum said the decision follows a letter from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins confirming the export resumption. Simultaneously, the sterile‑fly program operating out of the Chiapas plant will begin releasing insects from north to south within about two weeks, producing an initial 28 million flies per week and scaling to 100 million by late 2026. The effort, coordinated with the United States and Panama, aims to eradicate the screwworm that forced the original trade halt and is expected to revive the ranching sector and boost Mexican meat exports.
Entities
Agua Prieta crossing · Agua Prieta, Sonora · Brooke Rollins · Chiapa sterile‑fly plant · Chiapas sterile‑fly plant · Chiapas sterile‑fly production facility · Claudia Sheinbaum · Mexico (federal government) · New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) · U.S. Department of Agriculture · United States (federal government) · United States Department of Agriculture
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins sent a letter to President Sheinbaum confirming the cattle import reopening. www.calibre800.com · globorural.globo.com · expreso.press · www.contramuro.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Mexico will resume cattle exports to the US in late August 2026, beginning at Agua Prieta, Sonora, then two additional points in Chihuahua. www.calibre800.com · expreso.press · oronoticiaspuebla.com · oncenoticias.digital · www.contramuro.com · +6 more
- [DISPUTED] The Chiapas sterile‑fly plant is operational and aims to produce 28 million flies per week initially, scaling to 100 million by late 2026. www.elbuentono.com.mx · www.excelsior.com.mx · www.contramuro.com · www.calibre800.com · oronoticiaspuebla.com · +3 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] USDA will reopen the Douglas, Arizona cattle port on 24 August 2026, followed by Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico. www.equinechronicle.com · globorural.globo.com · beyondbordersnews.com · www.wwbl.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · +1 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The sterile fly release will be carried out from north to south across Mexico. www.contramuro.com · www.elbuentono.com.mx · dossierpolitico.com · www.excelsior.com.mx · www.calibre800.com · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The sterile‑fly program is part of a trilateral agreement among Mexico, the United States and Panama. www.contramuro.com · www.elbuentono.com.mx · www.excelsior.com.mx · www.calibre800.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · +4 more
- [DISPUTED] The cattle‑export suspension caused economic losses exceeding $1 billion. www.contramuro.com · www.calibre800.com · oronoticiaspuebla.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] Mexico will begin releasing sterile flies within two weeks to combat the New World screwworm. www.contramuro.com · www.elbuentono.com.mx · dossierpolitico.com · www.excelsior.com.mx · www.calibre800.com · +2 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] A new, more efficient sterile‑fly strain is under review by Cofepris. www.calibre800.com · dossierpolitico.com · ncscampeche.com