Mexico officially repeals biotech corn imports ban

Mexico has formally repealed its proposed ban on biotech corn imports stemming from a February 2023 presidential decree that led to a dispute resolution under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a move applauded by advocates of US corn. 

Mexico on Feb. 5 officially declared ineffective two measures successfully challenged by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) through the USMCA: An immediate ban on the use of genetically engineered (GE) corn in dough and tortillas and an instruction to Mexican government agencies to gradually eliminate the use of GE corn for other food uses and in animal feed.  

On Aug. 17, 2023, the United States established a dispute settlement panel under Chapter 31 of the USMCA, challenging two sets of measures in the corn decree by former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Claims were brought under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Chapter and under the National Treatment and Market Access for Goods Chapter of the USMCA.

The panel issued its final report on Dec. 20, 2024, and the United States prevailed on all seven of its claims. Under USMCA rules, Mexico and the United States were expected to agree on a resolution of the dispute within 45 days from the date of the final report.

“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 US corn growers the market access that Mexico agreed to provide in the USMCA,” the USTR said.

In 2024, the United States exported $5.6 billion of corn to Mexico, the largest export market for US corn, the USTR said. In the 2024-25 marketing year, Mexico is forecast to import 25 million tonnes of corn, 99% of which comes from the United States, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture.

Given the value of US corn exports to Mexico, industry trade associations in the United States applauded the repeal measure as a positive step in trade relations.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) expressed optimism in the USMCA process and credited advocacy on behalf of US corn producers for the resolution. The organization’s leaders argued that the ban would have significantly harmed growers and rural communities, especially because Mexico is the top export destination for US corn.

“We are encouraged by today’s development and pleased by the impact of corn grower advocacy,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the NCGA and an Illinois farmer. “Mexico must comply with the report and eliminate all measures that ban or restrict the trade of genetically modified corn.”

Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Mexico’s decree was an attempt to limit trade and a clear violation of the USMCA that was confirmed by the dispute settlement panel.

“A ban would have hurt hard-working families on both sides of the border,” Duvall said. “America’s farmers are dedicated to growing safe and affordable food, and they look forward to continued access to an important trading partner.”

John Bode, president and chief executive officer of the Corn Refiners Association, said Mexico’s actions are an important move toward restoring market access for GE corn. 

“We are encouraged to see the (Mexican President Claudia) Sheinbaum administration respect the science-based obligations in USMCA and the USMCA dispute settlement process,” Bode said. “Science has proven crops produced using biotechnology to be safe, and we welcome the opportunity to share American harvests with consumers in search of quality, affordable food.”