US-Mexico Biotech Corn Trade Dispute Continues to Be A Pressing Issue

The ongoing trade dispute between Mexico and the US concerning the import of biotech corn into Mexico is a pressing issue that affects food products for human consumption. Andrew Brent, US Grains Council director of trade policy provides further insights into this hot-button topic.

“The president of Mexico issued a decree first in 2020, and then it was updated in February of 2023. Essentially, it says we don't want to use biotech corn in our country. Specifically, we really don't want to use it for foods for human consumption. So currently, as the law in Mexico is, you can import biotech corn to feed livestock. But to use white corn to make a tortilla for a Paco for a person would technically be violating their law. We of course object to that. We know that for certain, very thorough scientific reasoning and testing over many decades. Biotechnology is safe. So there is unfortunately a trade dispute. This past August, the US trade rep. USTR officially requested a dispute panel under the US MCA trade agreement between US Mexico and Canada.”

USGC expects a trade dispute resolution by spring or early summer as the panel advances hoping to put this dispute behind them as Mexico is the number one export market for US corn. Brent says that they are cautiously optimistic that the US will prevail if the biotech corn merits are argued on science.