200 years of bilateral relations with Mexico: protecting agricultural resources from plant pests and animal disease risks on both sides of the border

January 19, 2023

From December 2022, the United States and Mexico celebrate 200 years of bilateral relations. For two hundred years, our nations have developed rich diplomatic and cultural relations in which agricultural and commercial considerations play a prominent role.

The USDA and the Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) laid their strong foundation for collaboration over 100 years ago through many notable and successful accomplishments, such as preventing infectious animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease from entering our countries and protecting plant health by reducing the movement of invasive insects. across borders.

The Animal and Phytosanitary Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) support these efforts on behalf of the American people, working with our Mexican counterpart, Food Safety and Agricultural Quality (SENASICA). We have a long and successful history of collaborative plant and animal pest control and eradication programs designed to protect farmers and ranchers in every country, ensure an abundant food source for our citizens, and ensure continued trade. During the past 50 years, the USDA has negotiated highly successful SPS and Agricultural Trade Agreements that now total more than $60 billion annually.

As we celebrate our bicentenary, let us take the opportunity to reflect on the great work that is happening on both sides of the border to protect agricultural resources. We look forward to another 200 years of facilitating safe trade through science-based standards of protection. Follow APHIS on Twitter Or Facebook for more photos and memories of the past 200 years.

Editor’s note: Nick Gutiérrez is the Regional Director of APHIS responsible for covering all animal and plant health programs in Mexico. He retired from that position in 2015, after nearly 36 years as a Foreign Service Officer at the Health Physics Authority (APHIS). Nick immediately jumped at the opportunity to return to Mexico City, reunite with his colleagues at APHIS, and return to work with long-time partners and collaborators within SADER) and SENASICA.