U.S. Trade Restrictions Unlikely to Affect Belize  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has rolled out new restrictions on live animal imports from Belize, effective January third, 2025. This move follows Belize’s confirmation of its first case of New World Screwworm in late December. Under the new rules, ruminants like goats and cattle, as well as swine, are banned from entering the U.S. Dogs can still be imported, but they must have a health certificate confirming they’ve been inspected for screwworm. Horses will also need to undergo inspection and isolation upon arrival. Earlier today, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai reassured News Five that these restrictions are unlikely to have a significant impact on Belize’s trade sector.

 

On the Phone: Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“We’re the last country in Central America to have contacted screwworm. Mexico had it first on us. When Mexico had the case, the U.S. did put some sanctions on them until they reviewed and made changes to the export protocol. So the Mexicans use the same protocol with us, Belize.  We intend to use the same protocol with us, Belize. So we have screwworm now in the Belize, we have two cases confirmed, but Mexico has never stopped or closed the door on our exports for cattle. As a matter of fact, they are helping by reducing the number of quarantine deals from twenty-one to seven years. So that they could export a different protocol, easier and less expensive. All they want for us to do animal inspection and thorough treatment before we export. But it has not affected us. The U. S., put that on the website. We do not export any livestock to the U. S., so it does not affect us in any way.”