The head of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) says Mexico’s upcoming ban on imports of GMO corn is a violation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Andy LaVigne says, “The ban isn’t science-based. It’s going to be really detrimental, not only to U.S. farmers, but the Mexican consumers. The cost will go up dramatically. We’re trying to work through it with our government, with their government, and our counterparts in Mexico to try to find a solution. But, for right now, it’s kind of bleak.”
ASTA and other ag groups, like the National Corn Growers Association, have urged the U.S. to file a dispute under the ag chapter of the USMCA, which calls for cooperation between governments on the regulation of imports.
According to LaVigne, Mexico will be hard-pressed to find enough non-GMO corn to meet its needs. “In order to have that much conventional corn, we would need to have the seed in the bag today so farmers can plant it in March and April of this year and harvest it in the fall,” he says. “We don’t have that. There’s not that pathway. There’s not that pathway in Argentina, there’s not that pathway in Brazil. And obviously, you’re not getting it from Ukraine either.”
LaVigne says if the ban also includes corn used in feed for livestock, it would have a negative impact on feed costs, and would ultimately raise the prices consumers pay for products like pork and poultry.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
There is good reason to believe that the Mexican ban on biotech corn would violate the spirit of the USMCA. The whole notion behind the USMCA is to open more trade between our neighbors to the north and south. Mr. LaVigne is right, finding enough non-GMO, or biotech corn seed, would be a monumental undertaking at this late date. Plus, as he points out, there is no scientific data to support such a ban in the first place. Biotech has been around for decades now and there is no evidence that it is harmful to the plants, to animals or to humans. Keeping our export partners happy and maintaining our status as a reliable supplier is definitely important financially to our farmers/ranchers. After all, it is their well-being that helps support truck sales at your dealership!
