Why does Mexico prohibit transgenic corn? Before answering this question, it is important to know that this prohibition is only for planting or for human consumption.
A first reason is that Mexico is the Center of Origin of 57 of about 64 corn breeds.
The Mexican government argues that in the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA), the Parties are obliged to take care of the environment and, in particular, to preserve endangered species.
The Mexican government also argues that there are risks in consuming transgenic corn, especially considering that Mexico is the largest consumer of this grain in the world and that Mexicans consume 10 times more corn than Americans, mainly in minimally processed foods, such as tortillas.
On this last point, the United States categorically states that Mexico has no scientific basis.
Why does Mexico prohibit transgenic corn?
On December 31, 2020, a Mexican presidential decree (Corn Decree) announced the phase-out of GM corn used for human consumption, as well as the phase-out of the use of the herbicide glyphosate in Mexico by January 31, 2024.
The Corn Decree revokes existing authorizations for GM corn used for food and prohibits new authorizations.
In 2022, Mexican authorities indicated their intention to reduce the importation of all U.S. GM corn, while seeking to secure non-GM corn imports by contracting directly with non-GM corn producers to meet Mexico’s domestic needs.
Later that year, U.S. officials raised the Corn Decree for discussion at several high-level meetings.
Katherine Tai, the White House Trade Representative (USTR) raised the Corn Order for discussion on the sidelines of the USMCA Free Trade Committee meeting.
On November 28, 2022, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. During the meeting, he warned that a ban on GM corn imports would greatly affect Mexico’s agricultural industries. This ban would also impact consumers in Mexico, as well as U.S. farmers.
Consumption
The United States exported $5 billion of corn grain to Mexico in 2022, supplying about 95% of Mexico’s corn imports.
Mexico uses both white corn (for human consumption, primarily to make tortillas) and yellow corn (for livestock feed and industrial uses) and imports 40% of its total corn demand.
Most of the U.S. corn imported by Mexico is used as livestock feed, but some is used in processed foods.
In 2022, 90% of U.S. corn acreage was planted with GM varieties.
The Mexican government further argues that Mexican corn imports from the U.S. have been on an upward trend, so there is no economic harm from the restriction measures.
The ruling of a USMCA dispute settlement panel in this case is expected to be released next November.