Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Saturday that she expects the country’s Congress to approve a ban on planting genetically modified (GM) corn early next year, despite a ruling from a trade-dispute panel that found Mexico’s restrictions on U.S. GM corn exports violate the USMCA trade agreement.
Sheinbaum’s statement follows a decision made a day earlier by the panel, which concluded that Mexico’s policy regarding the importation of GM corn breaches the terms of the trade deal with the United States. Sheinbaum, speaking at a public event, expressed confidence in Congress, which is controlled by her ruling party, to overturn the resolution and push for the ban.
“With the help of Mexico’s Congress, we are going to reverse this resolution because very soon, in February, they are going to legislate, I am sure, that you can’t plant genetically modified corn,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of protecting Mexico’s biodiversity, stressing that the nation’s identity and culture are deeply connected to corn. “Without corn, there is no country,” she added.
While the proposed ban may increase the domestic supply of non-GM corn, it would not stop the import of GM corn, which continues to be a key component of Mexico’s agricultural industry.
GM crops, which contain genetic modifications for traits like disease resistance, have been widely adopted in several countries, notably the United States. However, critics argue that their safety for human health and the environment remains unproven.
The controversy surrounding Mexico’s stance on GM corn escalated after the U.S. government sought the intervention of a dispute resolution panel, following the Mexican government’s February 2023 decree. That decree prohibited the use of GM corn in food products like tortillas and dough, and called for replacing GM corn in animal feed and industrial production.
In response to the panel’s ruling, Mexico’s Economy and Agriculture Ministries issued a joint statement expressing disagreement but committing to respect the decision. The ministries clarified that the ruling pertains specifically to trade between Mexico and the United States, and does not encompass domestic policies on GM corn.
Mexico, which is regarded as the birthplace of modern corn, is concerned that GM crops could contaminate its native varieties. Despite this, the country remains the largest foreign buyer of U.S.-grown yellow corn, almost all of which is genetically modified. The Mexican government anticipates importing a record 22.3 million metric tons of corn during the 2023/24 crop season.
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