US to Continue Monitoring Mexico’s GMO Crop Regulations

The United States has reaffirmed that it will continue overseeing Mexico’s regulation of genetically modified (GM) crops to ensure compliance with scientific principles and maintain market access for US producers.  

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) stated that it will closely monitor compliance with trade agreements established under USMCA. This announcement follows the Mexican government’s suspension of key restrictions on GM corn on Feb. 5, 2025, after the dispute panel ruling at the end of 2024.

The USTR highlighted that the suspension rendered ineffective two key conditions: the immediate ban on using genetically engineered corn in dough and tortillas, and the directive for Mexican authorities to gradually phase out GM corn in other food products and animal feed. Additionally, the office noted that in 2024, the United States exported US$5.6 billion worth of corn to Mexico, making it the largest export market for American corn.  

Science-Based Regulation

The USTR once again underscored the importance of ensuring that Mexico’s policies on agricultural biotechnology are grounded on scientific evidence. This argument has been central to the US stance in defending GM corn, with officials pointing to decades of research demonstrating the safety of biotech products.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) are in charge of regulating most GMOs. These agencies ensure that GMOs are safe for human, plant, and animal health. In the northern country, GMOs constitute a significant portion of key crops, including soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton, which are commonly used in products such as cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and granulated sugar. Other fresh produce, such as potatoes, papayas, squash, apples, and pink pineapples, also rely on this technology.  

Despite the broad acceptance of GMOs in the United States, concerns remain about their environmental and health impact. Studies have documented contamination of native corn varieties with transgenic genes, even in remote areas. This genetic alteration could affect biodiversity and have long-term ecological consequences, especially in Mexico, where corn is a staple food and a key part of its agricultural heritage. Additionally, transgenic corn cultivation is closely linked to glyphosate, an herbicide classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015 as a probable carcinogen.  

Mexican beekeepers have raised concerns about glyphosate, citing mass bee deaths and the presence of genetically modified soybean pollen in their honey. Furthermore, a group of coffee producers reported losing European Union export contracts due to glyphosate traces in their shipments, which they attributed to the widespread use of the herbicide on neighboring farms, as reported by El Sol de México.  

Outside Mexico, experts have also questioned the safety of GMOs for human consumption. In March 2024, the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) publicly supported Mexico’s GM corn ban, arguing that Mexicans consume more corn than any other population worldwide, primarily through minimally processed flour for tortillas, which differs significantly from the way GM corn is consumed in highly processed foods in the United States and Canada. “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,” the organization stated.

Mexican Government’s Response

Following the ruling in favor of the United States, Mexican authorities stated that they would comply with the decision, despite their disagreement. However, in late January, President Claudia Sheinbaum submitted a constitutional reform initiative to the Chamber of Deputies to classify corn as a national identity element and ensure GMO-free cultivation throughout Mexico.  

The Constitutional Points Commission of the Mexican Congress is currently reviewing Sheinbaum’s proposal. Ricardo Monreal, Leader of Morena in the Senate, announced that the commission will hold meetings with Rosaura Ruiz, Minister of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (SECIHTI), and Julio Beradgue, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), to discuss the details of the proposal.  

An additional meeting with the Ministry of Energy and subject-matter experts is also planned, aiming to analyze the initiative from different technical and scientific perspectives. Monreal stressed that the proposal would not be rushed through Congress. Instead, lawmakers will take time to reflect on the issue and, if necessary, introduce modifications.