The United States has responded to Mexico’s legal arguments against the use of transgenic corn, stating that they are not based on relevant international standards, science, or the T-MEC laws. In a document of over 100 pages, the US side respectfully requested the panel to conclude that Mexico’s barriers to genetically modified corn are incompatible with its commitments to the T-MEC.
The US argues that Mexico’s ban on genetically modified corn is without scientific basis and goes against long-held beliefs by the international scientific community that such crops are safe for human consumption. Mexico was once part of this community but made a decision to ban transgenic corn without any evidence to support its stance.
In February 2023, Mexico announced modifications to its decree, allowing the use of transgenic corn as fodder and food production for animals but maintaining the ban on products for human consumption such as tortillas. However, this approach remains vague and imprecise in identifying risks associated with genetically modified corn consumption.
Mexico buys approximately $5 billion worth of corn annually from the United States, mostly transgenic yellow grain for livestock. The US responded to Mexico’s defense by highlighting that Mexico’s actions have commercial effects, citing a significant decrease in white corn exports from the US to Mexico following the implementation of the Corn Act 2023. The US argues that Mexico’s actions constitute arbitrary discrimination between countries and have impacted trade relations between the two nations. The formal arbitration process is set to return a preliminary verdict in September and a final verdict in November.