Mexico Challenges US Claims in GM Corn Dispute

Mexico awaits evidence from the United States validating the safety of continuous human consumption of genetically modified corn, thereby challenging the US stance that questions lack of scientific evidence on the Mexican side. The controversy over Mexico's ban on GM corn for human consumption is expected to be settled this month, highlighting the clash over health concerns and trade ideologies.

In August 2023, the United States initiated a dispute resolution panel under USMCA, in response to Mexico's prohibition of genetically modified corn for human consumption. One of the main arguments from the northern country is the lack of scientific evidence supporting the Mexican claim that GM corn poses health risks to the population.

Víctor Suárez, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, stated that it is now up to the United States to prove that genetically modified corn does not harm the Mexican population, which consumes a significant amount of corn through staple foods like nixtamalized dough and tortillas.

In January, Mexico submitted a written statement to the USMCA panel, arguing that scientific evidence proves GM corn and the herbicide glyphosate are harmful to human health and native varieties. The document cited studies showing links between the consumption of GM corn and glyphosate exposure with liver inflammation in humans and immune response impacts on animals, stating that it considers the risk to human health as extremely serious. The statement was released on Tuesday by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, a non-governmental organization.  

“Until today, we have not seen any scientific study presented by the United States or private companies regarding the safety of continued consumption over the years. Therefore, there are no scientific grounds supporting their position. We are looking forward to that study with great pleasure,” highlighted Suárez.

Last week, the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) voiced its support for Mexico’s GM corn ban against the United States. The Canadian organization underscored that there are no post-market studies in human populations to determine if adverse health effects have occurred, and without monitoring or labeling of GM foods, such studies are not feasible, backing up Mexico’s call for scientific studies on this matter. 

A spokesman for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) told Reuters that Mexico's approach to biotechnology goes against decades of evidence demonstrating its safety. Moreover, a high-level official from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) stated that scientific authorities, including in Mexico, have consistently found biotechnological products like corn to be safe over a period of decades, in response to Suárez's remarks.

The Mexican decree allows the use of transgenic yellow corn for animal consumption, representing the majority of the nearly US$5.9 billion that Mexico annually imports from the United States. In this regard, Suárez emphasized that there is no trade impact, pointing out that even corn imports to Mexico from the United States have risen in recent years.  "It is purely the ideology behind a model of food dependency," added Suárez.

Mexico has not set a specific deadline for the total replacement of genetically modified corn, according to the decree, so there cannot be an argument about its possible commercial impact in the dispute panel yet. "It is a strategic goal. Just as the United States would like to have energy sovereignty and energy self-sufficiency at some point," Suárez said. The dispute panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end of this month.