BIO Statement: Consultation with Mexico is Vital Step in Protecting Ag Innovation, Food Security

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization welcomes today’s announcement by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that it is initiating a technical consultation with Mexico over that country’s plan to ban imports of biotech corn.

“BIO applauds the efforts of USTR and USDA to resolve this issue through negotiations,” said Nancy Travis, vice president for international affairs at BIO. “However, it’s time to send a strong message to the government of Mexico and return to the science-based trading system and obligations to which both our countries committed when we signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

“In addition to the economic harm that Mexico’s proposed ban will have on U.S. corn producers, the ban will have a devastating impact on the agricultural innovation needed to achieve our climate goals and ensure we can meet the world’s growing demand for food. BIO has called for the Biden Administration to use the dispute settlement process in USMCA to provide a framework and timeline to resolve this issue. Today’s announcement of a technical consultation with Mexico is a vital first step to restoring policies that enable farmers to use agricultural biotechnology products and improve food security and sustainability.”