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By KELIN DILLON

Following an incident concerning two inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Mexico’s western state of Michoacán over the weekend, the United States announced the suspension of inspections and new imports of Mexican avocados and mangos grown in Michoacán “until further notice” on Monday, June 17.

The two USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) safety inspectors were reportedly illegally detained at a checkpoint by a local Michoacán criminal group, prompting the USDA’s decision on the popular Mexican crops.

According to a USDA spokesperson, inspections in Michoacán “will remain paused until the security situation is reviewed and protocols and safeguards are in place.”

The spokesperson also said that the department aims to resume its inspections in the state “as swiftly as possible” and emphasized that shipments the USDA had already inspected are “not impacted” by the temporary suspension.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar affirmed the USDA’s decision on Tuesday, June 18.

“To ensure the safety of our agricultural inspection teams, APHIS has suspended inspections of avocados and mangoes in Michoacán until these safety issues have been resolved,” said Salazar. “This pause does not affect other Mexican states, where APHIS inspections continue. This action does not block all exports of avocados or mangoes to the United States, nor does it stop products currently in transit.”

However, the suspension could cause Mexico’s avocado producers an estimated $52 million in weekly losses so long as it is in effect, said the nation’s Agricultural Market Consulting Group (GCMA), noting that the fruits’ short shelf life could exacerbate financial damages to the industry.

For his part, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) took to his daily morning press conference on Tuesday to criticize the USDA’s decision to suspend inspections on Michoacán’s lucrative food products.

“We are already looking into it, an agreement is being sought, there are always these unilateral measures but those are the policies of the United States,” said AMLO at the time. “Fortunately we have good relations and there we are convincing them to act differently.”