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US wins Mexico-USA corn trade dispute

Posted 31st December 2024 in News

The US has won a trade dispute with Mexico over the import of genetically modified corn.

In 2023 Mexico issued a decree to restrict the use of genetically modified corn in tortillas and other minimally processed corn products, and to phase out the use of glyphosate. This sparked a trade dispute with the USA, which sought to challenge the decision under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Mexico imports GM corn from the United States which is used largely to feed livestock, but Mexican authorities are concerned by the potential impacts on human health if the corn is consumed directly. This concern was vindicated by Mexico’s National Council for Humanities, Science and Technology (CONAHCYT), which released new scientific in November 2024.

According to the U.S. Right to Know, “Mexico’s stand for food sovereignty and the scientific evidence they gathered to support their case have worldwide relevance, as nations across the Global South grapple with seed laws that would open the doors to GM foods.” It describes the scientific analysis as among the most thorough reviews to date of the evidence on the health risks of GM corn and glyphosate.

However, the trade dispute panel ruled that the ban was not based on science and violated the trade agreement’s chapters on sanitary measures and market access.

An anti-GMO rally in Mexico City. Image: REUTERS/Bernardo Montoya