The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) urge an immediate response from the Biden Administration and the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in response to Mexico’s updated published decree on February 13 which will revoke authorizations and permits to import, produce, distribute and use the herbicide glyphosate and genetically modified (GM) corn in the midst of trade tensions with the United States.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has clearly violated the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade pact by issuing this decree to ban the imports of GM corn. Nebraska Corn stresses that the consultation process for a dispute under USMCA must be initiated immediately.
The decree alludes to scientific studies being conducted to investigate the health impacts of consuming GM corn. After decades of global study, the negative results have been absent time and time again when utilizing genetic technology. Nebraska Corn trusts the science.
“We are to the point that the United States needs to request consultation under the USMCA immediately,” Chris Grams, NeCGA president, states. “The decree is unacceptable for not only Nebraska farmers, but also the country of Mexico. If the decree comes to pass, it will have severe economic consequences on Nebraska farmers as we lead the nation in white corn production.”
“We trust the science and so should Mexico,” Jay Reiners, NCB Chairman states. “We refuse to sacrifice the science, or the growing of white corn used for human consumption for yellow corn and livestock feed. Mexico cannot feed their people alone; they need U.S. farmers.”
Genetic technology has changed the way crops are grown, sold and marketed. It is necessary for the consultation process for a dispute under USMCA to be initiated.