U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the United States requested the establishment of a dispute settlement panel with Mexico due to Mexico's non-scientific approach to agricultural biotechnology policies. The request for the panel is part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), according to an Aug.17 news release.

“Mexico’s approach to biotechnology is not based on science and runs counter to decades’ worth of evidence demonstrating its safety and the rigorous, science-based regulatory review system that ensures it poses no harm to human health and the environment," Vilsack said in the release. "Innovations in agricultural biotechnology play a key role in advancing solutions to our shared global challenges, including food and nutrition insecurity, the climate crisis and the lingering effects of food price inflation."

According to a news release from the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, is dispute settlement panel concerns biotech corn.

"The United States is challenging measures set out in Mexico’s Feb. 13 decree, specifically the ban on use of biotech corn in tortillas or dough, and the instruction to Mexican government agencies to gradually substitute – i.e. ban – the use of biotech corn in all products for human consumption and for animal feed."

“Through the USMCA dispute panel, we seek to resolve our concerns and help ensure consumers can continue to access safe and affordable food and agricultural products," Ambassador Katherine Tai said in the USTR release. "It is critical that Mexico eliminate its USMCA-inconsistent biotechnology measures so that American farmers can continue to access the Mexican market and use innovative tools to respond to climate and food security challenges."

“By requesting the establishment of a dispute settlement panel with Mexico, the United States is continuing to exercise its rights under the USMCA to ensure that U.S. producers and exporters have full and fair access to the Mexican market," Vilsack added, according to the release. "We will continue to support fair, open, science- and rules-based trade, which serves as the foundation of the USMCA as it was agreed to by all parties.”