US eases curbs on Mexican cattle imports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reopened the Douglas, Arizona land port of entry to live cattle imports from Mexico on August 24, 2026. The step marks a controlled resumption of cross‑border cattle movements that had been curtailed due to New World screwworm concerns. The Douglas reopening is structured as a phased operation, with tightly managed daily volumes and ongoing monitoring of animal‑health risks.

Under the current protocol, imports through Douglas are initially limited to about 700 head of cattle per day in the first week. In the second week, the cap is intended to rise to roughly 900 head per day. After that, volumes are planned to ramp up progressively to around 1,300 head per day, contingent on procedures, staffing, and health safeguards performing as expected.

USDA has indicated that lessons from the Douglas reopening will guide decisions on expanding cattle imports through other border crossings. The department is considering phased reopenings at the Santa Teresa and Columbus ports in New Mexico as the next steps in the sequence. These additional ports are seen as important for restoring broader trade flows while maintaining health protections.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has referenced internal targets of roughly 30 days after the Douglas restart for reopening one New Mexico port and about 60 days for the second. Officials have characterized these figures as targets rather than fixed commitments. The timetable is subject to change based on the evaluation of operations at Douglas and the evolution of disease risk.

The resumption of cattle imports is occurring while New World screwworm remains an active animal‑health concern in parts of northern Mexico. Authorities have also reported detections in U.S. border states, including Texas and New Mexico. These conditions have led to a cautious approach, with safeguards designed to limit the chance of further spread.

Mexican and U.S. officials are continuing containment activities such as sterile‑fly releases and enhanced inspections at the border. The phased reopening framework is explicitly designed to be reversible if conditions worsen. Authorities have stated that port operations, including at Douglas and any future reopened crossings in New Mexico, can be paused if the assessed risk from screwworm increases.

Economists and industry analysts view the renewed Mexican cattle imports as a modest addition to U.S. feeder cattle supplies. The volume of animals entering through Douglas, even at the planned higher daily caps, represents a relatively small share of total U.S. cattle numbers. Moreover, imported feeder cattle require months in the production chain before they reach slaughter weight and affect meat supplies.

Retail beef prices in the United States remain elevated. U.S. ground beef averaged about $6.89 per pound in July 2026, and other beef prices are described as being near record highs. Analysts do not expect the current phase of reopened imports to produce measurable reductions in beef prices for consumers in the near term, even as the policy provides an additional source of cattle for U.S. buyers over time.