Ottawa has slammed the border shut on Texas cattle. The reason? The New World screwworm.
A parasitic maggot. It eats living flesh. Canada is not taking chances.
The ban is immediate and total. Texas ranchers are furious. They call it a 'sledgehammer' response.
But here is the real story for Westminster: the UK-Canada trade deal remains untouched. Not a single clause rattled. Sources in the Department for International Trade tell me this was a veterinary issue, not a political one.
Ottawa is desperate for a post-Brexit pact. They will not jeopardise it over screwworms. The ban covers live cattle, embryos, and semen.
Texas governor Greg Abbott is demanding compensation. He claims the science does not support a full ban. But Canadian officials are adamant.
They cite a 2023 case in Mexico. The USDA has already imposed its own restrictions. The key point for London: this is a bilateral US-Canada spat.
The UK deal is in a separate lane. Whitehall insiders confirm. No knock-on effects.
No renegotiations. The trade deal is on track for ratification. But watch this space.
The Texas beef lobby has deep pockets. They will pressure Washington to lean on Ottawa. If that happens, UK negotiators may need to issue soothing statements.
For now, calm. But in trade, calm is a fragile thing.
