USA wins dispute over genetically modified corn with Mexico under USMCA

The trade dispute between the USA and Mexico over genetically modified corn has been decided in favor of the USA. An arbitration panel under the USMCA trade agreement confirmed that Mexico's efforts to stop the import of GMO corn were not scientifically justified and thus violated the agreement. This decision, which was already provisionally established last month, has now been officially announced. Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative, welcomed the ruling. She emphasized that the decision reaffirmed the USA's long-standing concerns about Mexico's biotechnology policies and their detrimental effects on American agricultural exports. Mexico imports record amounts of US corn as animal feed, especially after a severe drought that severely affected domestic harvests. While Mexico has officially imposed a ban on the import of GMO corn for human consumption, US farmers feared that this ban could also affect corn for animal feed. The Mexican Ministry of Economy stated in a separate statement that it disagreed with the arbitration panel's decision. Nevertheless, it would accept the ruling and continue to try to protect the rights of all Mexicans.