US Mexico Cattle Imports Reopen After Screwworm Ban, Lifting JBS

Trade · Mexico & United States

A parasite scare that shut a vital livestock trade is starting to ease. The United States said it will reopen its border to Mexican cattle, a move that lifted the shares of major meatpackers.

Reopening the border

The US Department of Agriculture announced a phased reopening of cattle imports from Mexico, beginning at the Douglas, Arizona, border crossing on August 24, 2026. Douglas sits opposite Agua Prieta in Mexico’s northern state of Sonora.

The reopening is deliberately cautious after months of closure. Only cattle born and raised in Sonora or Chihuahua, or animals treated under specific anti-parasite protocols, will qualify for import at the start.

Why it was closed

The suspension followed an outbreak of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, detected in Mexico in late 2024. Authorities feared its spread could devastate US livestock if infested animals crossed the border.

By official counts, the outbreak has reached 29 of Mexico’s 32 states, with well over a thousand active cases. In the United States, a smaller number of cases have been recorded, most of them in Texas.

Markets react

Shares of meatpackers Tyson Foods and JBS surged after Washington said it would resume shipments. The closure had squeezed the supply of animals and raised costs across the US beef industry.

Reopening the flow of Mexican cattle promises to ease a domestic shortage that had pushed up prices. For large processors, more available cattle can support margins and steadier operations.

How the safeguards work

Imports will be tied to a joint US-Mexico action plan built around inspection and parasite control. Animals will be checked on the US side to prevent screwworm larvae from entering the country.

The staged approach lets authorities test the safeguards before widening access. If defences hold, additional ports and eligible regions could follow in later phases.

What it means for the region

For Mexican ranchers, the reopening restores access to their most important export market after a damaging pause. For US consumers, it could help temper beef prices that had climbed during the shutdown.

The episode highlights how tightly the two countries’ food systems are linked. A health scare on one side of the border quickly ripples through prices and companies on the other.

The road ahead

The first shipments in late August will be an early test of the new protocols. Regulators have signalled they will move gradually, expanding only if the screwworm threat stays contained.

For the beef supply chain, the direction of travel is toward normalisation after a turbulent stretch. How fast trade fully recovers will depend on the outbreak’s trajectory in Mexico.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do US imports of Mexican cattle resume?

The US Department of Agriculture said a phased reopening begins at the Douglas, Arizona, crossing on August 24, 2026.

Why were the imports suspended?

The US halted cattle imports after an outbreak of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, spread across much of Mexico.

Which companies benefited?

Shares of meatpackers Tyson Foods and JBS rose after the announcement, as the reopening should ease a US cattle shortage.

Sources

• Bloomberg
• Texas Tribune
• ABC News