U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai says the U.S. has prevailed in its dispute under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement challenging Mexican biotechnology measures on GE corn imports. The USMCA panel agreed with the U.S. on all seven legal claims, finding that Mexico’s measures banning imports of GMO corn from the U.S. were not based on sound science and undermined the market access that Mexico agreed to provide in the trade agreement.
“Mexico’s measures ran counter to decades’ worth of evidence demonstrating the safety of agricultural biotechnology, underpinned by science and risk-based regulatory review systems,” says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Under USMCA rules, Mexico has 45 days from the date of the final report (December 20th) to comply with the Panel’s findings. “The panel’s conclusion backs up our long-held position that agricultural trade policies must be grounded in science and must not disrupt trade in agricultural products,” says USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip.
In a major win for the nation’s corn growers, a USMCA dispute panel ruled that Mexico violated its commitments under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The violation took place in early 2023 when Mexico issued a decree that banned genetically modified corn imports.
“This is an incredible development for the nation’s corn growers and rural communities,” says Kenneth Hartman, Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association. “The outcome is a direct result of advocacy efforts of corn grower leaders from across the country.”
The U.S. Grains Council also hailed the good news. “Mexico has always been a powerful partner to U.S. corn growers and exporters, so when the country tried banning GM imports, it would have severely affected our industry,” says Ryan LeGrand, USGC President and CEO. “The Council worked to help ensure the dispute result was fair, and we look forward to continuing our work with our top U.S. grains-in-all-forms customer.”
