Mexican and U.S. officials remain far from reaching an agreement on Mexico’s plans to ban the importation of genetically modified corn for human consumption.

Mexican and U.S. officials remain far from reaching an agreement on Mexico’s plans to ban the importation of genetically modified corn for human consumption.

The U.S. government threatened to initiate a dispute settlement panel under the Mexico, United States, and Canada (-T-MEC) treaty if Mexico does not change its position on the use and importation of GM corn.

“We made it clear that if this problem is not resolved, we will consider all options, including taking formal action to enforce our rights under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” said U.S. Trade Representative.

The differences arise after the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, under the “No corn, no country” policy, issued a decree, as of December 31, 2020, to stop the import and use of transgenic corn progressively until 2024.

Mexico noted that it could eventually also veto GM corn for animal feed, but said it hopes to reach some kind of joint agreement to study the issue.

Mexico claims sanitary concerns, but this type of restriction could violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (T-MEC).