WASHINGTON – The United States has requested formal dispute settlement consultations with Mexico regarding GMO corn.

U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai made the announcement Friday, seeking assistance under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

“The United States has repeatedly conveyed its concerns that Mexico’s biotechnology policies are not based on science and threaten to disrupt U.S. exports to Mexico to the detriment of agricultural producers, which in turn can exacerbate food security challenges,” Ambassador Tai said. “Mexico’s biotechnology policies also stifle agricultural innovation that helps American farmers respond to pressing climate challenges, increase farm productivity, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.”

These consultations regard measures set out in Mexico’s February 13, 2023 decree, specifically the ban on use of biotechnology corn in tortillas or dough, and the instruction to Mexican government agencies to gradually ban the use of biotechnology corn in all products for human consumption and for animal feed.

“USDA supports success for all farmers, and that means embracing fair, open, science- and rules-based trade. In this spirit, the USMCA was written to ensure that producers in all three countries have full and fair access to each other’s markets,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “We fundamentally disagree with the position Mexico has taken on the issue of biotechnology, which has been proven to be safe for decades. Through this action, we are exercising our rights under USMCA while supporting innovation, nutrition security, sustainability, and the mutual success of our farmers and producers.” 

Friday’s announcement follows extensive engagement by the United States with the Government of Mexico on its biotechnology policies, including Ambassador Tai’s discussions with Mexico’s Secretary of Economy Raquel Buenrostro.  
 
On January 30, the United States sent a formal, written request to Mexico seeking “an explanation of the reasons for” and “pertinent relevant information regarding” certain Mexican measures concerning biotechnology products.  Mexico provided a written response on February 14.
 
In March 2023, the United States requested and held technical consultations with Mexico regarding its biotechnology measures under the USMCA SPS chapter, but the consultations did not resolve the matter. 

Nebraska’s Washington delegation lauded the Friday decision.

““We must always hold our trade partners to their commitments,” said third-district Representative Adrian Smith, a member of the House Trade Subcomittee. “While I wish this would have happened sooner, I thank Ambassador Tai and Secretary Vilsack for their attention to this important issue.”

“I have been urging the Administration to take this step for months now. Free trade means upholding your end of the deal, something Mexico has not done with the USMCA,” second-district Congressman Don Bacon said.

“As I’ve said repeatedly, we should use every tool at our disposal to stop this unscientific and economically damaging ban on genetically modified corn from ever being enacted,” Senator Deb Fischer said Friday. “Such a ban would be bad for family farmers, bad for Mexican consumers, and bad for the stability of our international trade agreements.