NAFB News Service
The United States requested trade consultations in March on Mexico’s plan to limit the use of genetically modified corn.
According to Reuters, a top Mexican official called the request an “unacceptable violation” of Mexican law that feeds the interest of giant seed companies.
The U.S. is Mexico’s main trading partner and requested the consultations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which calls for science-based regulations.
“The United States’ request to Mexico follows the interests of seed, agrochemical, and other food-producing oligopolies,” Mexico’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Victor Suarez said.
He also points out that seed makers like Bayer, Corteva, ChemChina’s Syngenta, and BASF are winning under U.S. agriculture and trade policies.
However, Suarez feels those companies don’t represent all U.S. farmers.
The consultations are a first step toward a trade panel that could ultimately mean a ruling calling for placing punitive tariffs on Mexico. Suarez said Mexico’s policy won’t affect U.S. corn farmers at all.