Fischer raises concerns over Mexico’s proposed ban on genetically modified corn

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), along with 25 of her Senate colleagues, voiced concerns about Mexico’s proposed ban on U.S. genetically engineered corn in a letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The vast majority of corn in the United States is planted with genetically engineered seeds, and Nebraska is the top state in the country for white corn, noted the senator’s office.

In 2020, Mexico’s President Lopez Obrador issued a presidential decree that Mexico would phase out the use of genetically modified corn by 2024, an action that the senators say is not only unsupported by science but a breach of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA).

“It would be detrimental to food security in Mexico, hurt U.S. agricultural sustainability, and stifle future agricultural technology innovations that would benefit both nations,” the senators wrote in the Dec. 14 letter. “While we appreciate the efforts of USTR and USDA to resolve this issue by engaging with Mexican officials, we also encourage the administration to consider all options available in an effort to hold Mexico to their trade commitments, including pursuing a dispute settlement process through USMCA.”

Nebraska exported over $348 million of corn to Mexico in 2020, making it the state’s largest export market for the product, according to Sen. Fischer’s office.

The bipartisan letter also was signed by U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), among others.