(Bloomberg) — The US has prevailed in its dispute with Mexico over genetically modified corn that threatened shipments to America’s top customer of the grain.
Most Read from Bloomberg
An arbitration panel under the USMCA trade agreement issued its final ruling agreeing with the US that Mexico’s efforts to halt imports of GMO corn were not based on science and violated the trade pact, according to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai. A preliminary decision had come out last month, but Friday’s ruling makes it official.
“The panel’s ruling reaffirms the US’s longstanding concerns about Mexico’s biotechnology policies and their detrimental impact on US agricultural exports,” Tai said in a statement.
Mexico has been bringing in record amounts of US corn, largely for use as animal feed, after severe drought hit local harvests.
Mexico’s policy had officially banned the import of GMO corn for human consumption, but US growers were concerned that the policy could be expanded to include the corn destined for use as animal feed.
In a separate statement, Mexico’s Economy Ministry said it doesn’t agree with the panel’s ruling and that it considers the measures in question as aligned with protecting public health and indigenous rights. Still, it added that it will accept the decision, and that it will “seek to continue to reclaim the rights of all Mexicans.”
–With assistance from Eric Martin and Carolina Millan.
Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek
©2024 Bloomberg L.P.