Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday, 7 August announced a security action plan for the violence-plagued state of Michoacan, aiming to restart avocado exports to the United States after Washington suspended inspections and imports following a fresh security alert. The halt marks the latest disruption to a trade corridor that supplies the bulk of US avocado demand.

What Triggered the Suspension

On Wednesday, the United States issued a security alert citing a 'threat' against US interests in Michoacan, prompting it to suspend all government activities in the state — including avocado inspections. With inspectors pulled out, imports were immediately halted. Michoacan is Mexico's leading avocado-producing and exporting state, making the disruption commercially significant for both countries.

Sheinbaum's Security Strategy

Speaking at her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, President Sheinbaum said the plan focuses on reinforcing National Guard deployments in areas of Michoacan where the force had previously maintained limited presence. She also confirmed that simultaneous talks with US authorities are ongoing. 'We hope that it will resume very soon and that is why we are in talks and, at the same time, strengthening security in certain areas where the Guard did not have as much of a presence,' she said. Sheinbaum added she was working to ensure 'there won't be any significant impact ... so we can get exports back on track.'

Diplomatic and Agricultural Push

Sheinbaum said she had met directly with avocado growers and exporters in Michoacan to address their concerns. Separately, Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development formally requested an urgent meeting with the US embassy, proposing that inspections resume under the supervision of officials from Mexico's national food safety service — a compromise designed to satisfy US security conditions while keeping the supply chain moving.

Broader Trade Context: USMCA and Tariffs

This comes amid already strained trade relations between Mexico and the United States. In June, Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico would prioritise pushing the US to eliminate existing tariffs during the ongoing review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The first round of formal USMCA review negotiations had already concluded, with the US delegation tabling several proposals. Under the current US administration, differentiated tariffs on imports — varying by production origin — have drawn sharp criticism from Mexican officials, who argue the policy breaks sharply from the multilateral trading norms that have governed regional commerce for decades, particularly with neighbours Mexico and Canada. The avocado suspension, critics argue, adds a security-linked dimension to what is already a fraught economic relationship.

What Comes Next

The pace of resolution will depend on how quickly National Guard deployments can be scaled up in affected areas and whether US authorities accept Mexico's proposal for supervised inspections. Any prolonged halt risks supply disruptions in the US market, where Mexican avocados dominate retail shelves. Both governments have signalled a desire for a swift resolution, but the underlying security situation in Michoacan — long contested by organised crime — remains the central variable.