News

Mexico doubling down on GM corn ban

A high-ranking government official in Mexico’s ag department says the country will stop importing genetically modified products.

National Corn Growers Association director of public policy Angus Kelly tells Brownfield a story broke late Thursday afternoon with quotes from the Mexican deputy secretary of agriculture.

“Who is very closely aligned with (Mexico) President Lopez Obrador saying that they would make good on their vow or promise to stop the import of genetically modified or biotech products.”

Mexico announced plans to ban certain GM products late in 2019 with implementation slated for January 2023.

Ag trade consultant and former assistant U.S. Trade Representative Sharon Bomer-Lauritsen says it appears Mexico is intent on moving forward with the ban early next year.

“That’s why I think it’s extremely important that the U.S. government engage now.”

If implemented, Kelly says the ban would hurt U.S. corn, soybean, cotton, canola, potato and even apple exports.

“Ninety-plus percent of that is biotech, so it certainly has us scratching our head (because) if you’re no longer going to purchase GM corn then I just don’t know where you can source it.”

Kelly says while U.S. farmers would take a hit from the ban, the real victims would be Mexican citizens who would see food prices climb by as much as 30 percent in the first year.

Bomer-Lauritsen believes the ban is not consistent with biotech provisions in the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement.

“The sanitary and phytosanitary chapter. And that would apply to Mexico’s obligations also under the WTO.”

And she says the USTR needs to use every tool in the toolbox to fix the problem.

“Before it becomes an actual trade barrier.”

Angus Kelly interview:

Sharon Bomer-Lauritsen interview: