© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A employee holds GMO yellow corn imported from the U.S., at a cattle feed plant in Tepexpan, Mexico March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha
By Leah Douglas
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. commerce dispute with Mexico over genetically modified corn is predicted to be resolved by the top of this yr, U.S. Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip mentioned on Wednesday.
Mexico revealed a presidential decree in 2020 that mentioned the nation would ban GM corn from human diets, arguing it threatens the nation’s native corn varieties and will pose a risk to human well being.
In August, the U.S. requested a dispute panel underneath the North American commerce pact, arguing the Mexican decree just isn’t primarily based on science and violates its commerce commitments.
“This (case) is about much more than biotech corn. It’s about ensuring that nations adhere to the provisions of the commerce agreements they’ve already signed and ensuring we keep on with science because the underpinning of commerce,” McKalip mentioned on the convention of the Nationwide Affiliation of State Departments of Agriculture.
Mexico buys about $5 billion of U.S. GM corn annually, most for livestock feed.
The dispute panel’s members and chair have been chosen and arguments earlier than the panel have been scheduled for later in 2024, McKalip mentioned.
Spokespeople for Mexico’s agriculture ministry and economic system ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.