Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, Mexico took action to declare ineffective measures concerning genetically engineered (GE) corn that was successfully challenged by the U.S. in a USMCA dispute. These actions, according to USDA, safeguards approximately $5.6 billion in U.S. corn exports to Mexico. USDA, in coordination with USTR, will continue to monitor Mexico’s compliance with its USMCA commitments.
“Mexico’s action declaring ineffective these GE corn measures is a major victory for U.S. farmers and a testament to President Trump’s decisive leadership on trade. Prompted by President Trump’s leadership and a USMCA panel ruling, Mexico’s action in response to the United States’ successful challenge in the USMCA litigation protects billions of dollars in U.S. exports,” said Kailee Buller, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “The Trump Administration will continue to stand up for U.S. farmers and producers, including tackling countries’ unjustified barriers to products of agricultural biotechnology.”
The National Corn Growers Association expressed optimism after Mexico rescinded portions of a decree that banned genetically modified corn. “We are encouraged by today’s development and pleased by the impact of corn grower advocacy,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr . “Mexico must comply with the report and eliminate all measures that ban or restrict the trade of genetically modified corn.”
The settlement process is still ongoing, Hartman noted. According to NCGA, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador first set off alarms in the Corn Belt in December 2020 when he initiated a decree to ban genetically modified corn by the end of 2024. At the time, NCGA began outreach to the Trump administration to head off the ban. Those efforts continued with the Biden administration as well as with members of Congress and Mexican officials.
Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued a statement as well after Mexico formally repealed its ban on genetically engineered corn today. “I’m happy to see Mexico come into alignment with the USMCA Dispute Settlement Panel’s ruling,” according to Senator Cramer. “Mexico can’t deny the science behind this biotechnology, which is used in over 90% of all the corn we grow in the U.S.”
