In a significant win for American corn growers, a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute panel ruled Dec. 20, that Mexico violated its trade commitments when it issued a decree banning genetically modified (GMO) corn imports in early 2023.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and other industry advocates hailed the decision, emphasizing its importance for farmers and rural communities. The ruling follows a long-standing battle by U.S. officials and corn growers to address the ban.
“This is an incredible development for the nation’s corn growers and rural communities,” said NCGA president and Illinois farmer Kenneth Hartman Jr in an NCGA news release. “This outcome is a direct result of the advocacy efforts of corn grower leaders from across the country. We want to thank the nation’s growers for speaking out and U.S. officials for listening and acting.”
The controversy began in late 2020 when Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced plans to ban GMO corn by the end of 2024, causing widespread concern across the Corn Belt. NCGA immediately reached out to the Trump administration to intervene, and their advocacy continued under the Biden administration. They also engaged Congress and Mexican officials to address the potential economic fallout.
Mexico is the top export destination for U.S. corn, making the proposed ban a critical issue for American growers. NCGA leaders warned that such a move would severely impact rural communities and the agricultural economy.
Tensions escalated in 2023 when the Mexican president issued a decree banning GMO white corn, effective immediately. NCGA and state corn grower groups pushed the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to take action under USMCA, leading to the dispute panel’s involvement.
“NCGA has been active each step of the way, sounding the alarm about the impact Mexico’s actions are having on farmers,” Hartman said. “This win illustrates the power of corn advocacy.”
The dispute resolution process under USMCA requires meeting strict criteria, making such rulings uncommon. Now that the decision has been made, NCGA leaders are committed to working with USTR and the incoming administration to ensure the ruling is fully enforced.
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