Sudden Tightening Of Border
Rules Squeeze Cattle Exports

LAS CRUCES, N.M. —(AP)— New rules by Mexican border officials have made selling U.S. cattle at the El Paso-Juarez border crossing almost impossible.

Recently, the state of Chihuahua began demanding that all Texas cattle passing into Juarez carry a brand and a sale invoice. Most animals don't have that identification.

The cattle also must pass a health inspection, but there's no inspection station in Juarez.

Mexican officials contend the new rules seek to prevent low-quality U.S. cattle being sold to drouth-stricken ranchers south of the border.

New Mexico, Texas and Chihuahua agriculture officials met last week in Las Cruces to discuss the problem.

New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Frank DuBois said Chihuahua livestock development director Alejandro Ramirez Godinez told the group the identity tag is important to avoid allegations of cattle theft.

DuBois says he is monitoring the situation and stands ready to seek congressional help if needed.

(Editor’s note: Industry observers connect the tough policy with a new governor in Chihuahua, and note that Mexican newspapers have carried stories to the effect that the effort is intended to stifle slaughter cow imports there because of competition with local supplies. National officials in Mexico City claimed to know nothing about the stricter rules, those sources say.

The timing of the crackdown is curious, coming as it did only days after governors of several states along the U.S.-Canada border clamped down on livestock and grain shipments entering their territories, also using "inspections" as a tool.

Then there is the recently-averted attempt by unnamed interests to trans-ship Australian feeder cattle into the U.S. through Mexico. A realist would recognize that such a plan could not have been economically feasible without allies among Mexican officialdom who could cut that country’s extensive red tape and perhaps even waive certain fees and charges. A cynic would suggest that such cooperation could only come at the price of generous gratuities; with the scheme scotched, those gratuities — and potential future installments — would presumably be lost. That would surely make someone unhappy and eager for retaliation. Or so a cynic might presume.)