In August, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) took action by requesting the formation of a panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in response to Mexico's decision to ban imports of biotech corn intended for human consumption.
Leaders at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) expressed strong support for this initiative. Tom Haag, President of NCGA, emphasized that Mexico's ban contradicts scientific findings and violates the USMCA, negatively affecting American corn growers. He stated, "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."
If the USTR's request is approved, a panel of impartial experts will be convened to review the case and make a final decision based on the commitments outlined in the free trade agreement.
The dispute traces back to a 2020 decree issued by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which aimed to prohibit imports of biotech corn starting in January 2024. In February of this year, Mexico revised the decree, immediately banning biotech corn for human consumption while leaving the possibility of a future ban on biotech corn for feed.
Mexico is a key market for corn and represents the top agricultural export from the United States. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the ban on U.S. farmers, rural economies, and food security for the people of Mexico.
Given the high stakes involved, the NCGA and corn grower leaders across the U.S. began alerting authorities last fall and have consistently called on the Biden administration to initiate a dispute settlement process under the provisions of the USMCA.
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Categories: Ohio, Crops, Corn