Asked how he will respond to Mexico's plan to stop importing genetically modified (GM) corn, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said Friday that Mexico is only considering such a ban for corn used in human food products, not animal feed.
He called the distinction a “big difference here to producers in the United States.” He has been in contact with his Mexican counterpart and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on the GM corn issue, noting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) includes provisions for formal consultations, and, if needed, a dispute resolution process. However, he stressed, “we're not anywhere near there yet,” referring to invoking dispute settlement provisions of the trade pact. “We're just having these conversations.”
Bottom line, Vilsack said, “It is important to distinguish between what Mexico is currently thinking about doing, and the fact that it's not going to have as great an impact it would if it was everything all at once, all right now,” referring to fears of a broader GM corn import ban.
This appears to clarify a situation which has caused major concern on the potential for U.S. corn and soybean exports to Mexico to be affected.