WASHINGTON ¬– The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it welcomes the action taken today by the Government of Mexico towards resolving the dispute under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on Mexican biotechnology measures concerning genetically engineered (GE) corn.
Mexico’s action today declares ineffective two sets of measures that USTR successfully challenged in the USMCA dispute: (1) an immediate ban on the use of GE corn in dough and tortillas and (2) an instruction to Mexican government agencies to gradually eliminate the use of GE corn for other food uses and in animal feed.
The United States will continue to monitor closely Mexico’s compliance with its USMCA commitments to ensure that Mexico’s agricultural biotechnology measures are based on science and provide U.S. corn growers the market access that Mexico agreed to provide in the USMCA.
In 2024, the United States exported $5.6 billion of corn to Mexico, the largest export market for U.S. corn.
Background
On August 17, 2023, the United States established a dispute settlement panel under Chapter 31 of the USMCA, challenging two sets of measures reflected in Mexico’s February 2023 presidential corn decree. The United States brought claims under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Chapter and under the National Treatment and Market Access for Goods Chapter of the USMCA, as reflected in the U.S. request to establish a dispute settlement panel.
The panel issued its final report to the Parties on December 20, 2024. The United States prevailed on all seven of its claims. Under USMCA rules, Mexico and the United States were to endeavor to agree on a resolution of the dispute within 45 days from the date of the final report.
The U.S. Government consulted with Mexico on actions it could take to resolve the dispute. The United States, in consultation with stakeholders, will continue to monitor closely Mexico’s compliance with its USMCA commitments.
Resource
A copy of the panel report is available here.
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