United States Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins threatened Saturday to close American ports to Mexican animal exports if they don’t allow the U.S. to help eradicate a deadly flesh eating insect outbreak.
Mexican customs officials are imposing burdensome import fees on American aviation equipment which is crucial to a joint effort between the two countries to fight a continuing outbreak of New World Screwworm, a parasite which feasts on the flesh on live mammals.
Rollins gave Mexico until April 30 to waive customs duties on U.S. eradication equipment which she said was crucial for helping quell the outbreak.
