U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has requested a dispute settlement panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in response to Mexico banning the use of biotech corn in dough and tortillas. Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), joined by other agricultural groups, has applauded Tai for pursuing the issue, saying Mexico's position is not based on science and is hurting the U.S. corn industry, Reuters reported.
"AFBF appreciates U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai for her continued commitment to ensuring Mexico lives up to its responsibilities under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement by allowing fair trade from the United States," Duvall said in a news release. "Mexico’s ban on bioengineered corn is not only a clear violation of USMCA, it also ignores science and denies families in Mexico safe and affordable food."
"America’s farmers are upholding their obligations by meeting demand while achieving important sustainability goals. Mexico must do the same," Duvall said.
Mexico purchases approximately $5 billion worth of genetically modified corn from the U.S. each year, but Mexico now says it believes the corn could have negative health effects and has restricted its use of the corn, Reuters reported. The U.S. disagrees that biotech corn has adverse effects and says Mexico is violating its agreements under the USMCA, which was established in 2020. Tai's request for a dispute settlement panel comes after the issue was not resolved during formal consultations.
"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 Tai said in a statement through the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. "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."
"Our bilateral relationship with Mexico, one of our oldest and strongest trading partners, is rooted in trust and honesty, and there are many areas where we will continue to cooperate and work together,” Tai said.
Mexico banned the use of biotech corn in dough and tortillas in February and has implemented a gradual substitution to replace its use in all human and animal food, Hoosier Ag Today reported.
"Mexico’s decree, which runs counter to scientific findings and is in direct violation of USMCA, is negatively impacting American corn growers," Tom Haag, president of the National Corn Growers Association, said in a statement quoted in Hoosier Ag Today. "U.S. officials have exhausted every avenue trying to resolve this conflict and are left with no other choice but to turn to a third-party panel in hopes of quickly rectifying this issue. We are deeply appreciative of USTR for standing up for America’s corn growers.”
The U.S. Grains Council also thanked Tai for her work, with President and CEO Ryan LeGrand saying in a statement quoted in Hoosier AG Today, "The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) thanks the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for requesting this dispute panel through the USMCA. Mexico’s policies on biotechnology are not based on sound science and are ultimately designed to block U.S. corn exports. We have had a long and productive relationship with Mexico. It is our number one market for U.S. corn, and we support this action because it will likely be the most expedient way to ensure that a positive relationship continues.”
