US takes Mexico to dispute panel over corn ban

The United States is taking Mexico to a dispute resolution panel over its ban on imports of US corn products produced with biotechnology. The US Trade Representative's office (USTR) said in a statement on Monday that it had requested the establishment of a panel under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The focal point of the dispute centers around Mexico's restrictions on U.S. corn products produced using biotechnology, particularly those involving the use of glyphosate.

Dave Salmonsen, Senior Government Affairs Director at the American Farm Bureau Federation, provides insights into the matter, explaining, "This move aims to tackle the concerns raised by Mexico's decrees aimed at preventing the import of U.S. corn products developed using biotechnology. The U.S. asserts that these measures breach the sanitary standards outlined in the USMCA and has thus initiated this case."

In earlier developments, Mexico issued decrees indicating their intent to halt the import of white corn while allowing the temporary import of U.S. yellow corn, pending the identification of alternative solutions.

Salmonsen adds, "The U.S. has consistently opposed these decrees, asserting that they lack scientific foundation. Dialogues between the U.S. and Mexican governments have been ongoing, with intensified discussions more recently."

Ted McKinney, the former USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, shed light on the complexities of Mexico's stance in a prior interview, emphasizing the importance of considering both economic and practical aspects. McKinney suggested that a reconsideration of Mexican President Obrador's perspective might be in order.

As developments unfold, technical consultations are expected to occur this year, with a potential resolution on the horizon in the early months of the upcoming year. The outcome of these deliberations will carry implications not only for agricultural trade between the U.S. and Mexico but also for the broader international biotech and agricultural landscape.

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