NAMA remains concerned about the far-reaching negative impacts that Mexico’s proposed ban on GM corn imports would bring for the U.S. agriculture sector.
President López Obrador initiated a decree in late 2020 that would ban imports of GM corn effective January 31, 2024.
Despite negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico, President López Obrador issued an updated decree on February 13, 2023 that does not resolve the issue, instead maintaining a ban on GM corn for food and only temporarily allowing flexibility for GM corn imports for feed and industrial uses.
“Mexico’s latest decree continues to wrongly call into question the safety of U.S. corn,” NAMA President Jane DeMarchi said.
“NAMA thanks the administration for its ongoing negotiations with Mexico and urges USTR to request consultations under USMCA’s dispute settlement framework to return to science-based trade policy.”
The U.S. is a top supplier of corn to Mexico.
The proposed ban is expected to drive up tortilla prices by roughly 40 percent, adding to food security challenges during a time of record food price inflation.
The ban would also reduce U.S. economic output by $16.5 billion and shrink GDP by $7.95 billion over ten years.
NAMA joins stakeholders across the agriculture value chain in encouraging the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to hold Mexico to its commitments under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and work toward a timely resolution.