WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday it will reopen the border to Mexican cattle imports, ending a six-month ban imposed after screwworm outbreaks. The decision takes effect Aug. 1, allowing live cattle to cross for processing in U.S. feedlots and slaughterhouses. The reversal follows intense pressure from major U.S. meatpacking firms and agricultural trade groups.
Lobbying disclosures show the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the North American Meat Institute spent a combined $3.1 million in the first half of 2026 pushing the USDA and congressional offices to restore the supply chain. Tyson Foods and JBS USA rely on Mexican feeder cattle to meet processing demand, particularly in Texas and Arizona.
Mexican cattle ranchers are the immediate beneficiaries, regaining access to a market that imported more than 1.3 million head annually before the ban. U.S. meatpackers also win, securing a cheaper and more consistent livestock supply. Domestic U.S. cattle producers, who saw higher prices during the import shutdown, now face renewed competition.
The United States imported $750 million worth of live cattle from Mexico in 2025, before screwworm-related restrictions took hold. The six-month ban created supply gaps and drove up input costs for processors. Texas accounts for 60 percent of those imports, with border communities heavily dependent on the cross-border trade.
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service outlined new conditions for reopening: Mexican exporters must provide enhanced veterinary health certificates and submit to stricter inspections at designated border crossings. The requirements are designed to prevent future screwworm infestations, a parasitic threat that costs the U.S. agricultural sector millions in eradication efforts each year.
