Mexico vows not to budge on U.S. corn dispute

Mexico’s president vowed March 7 not to back down in a dispute with the United States over a potential ban on imports of genetically modified corn.

The U.S. Trade Representative's office announced March 6 it had called for consultations with Mexico over proposed rules that would ban GM corn for human consumption. Mexico has said it could eventually ban it for animal feed as well.

Mexico argues that GM corn could somehow harm the health of those who consume animals raised on it, though it has not yet presented any proof of such ill effects.

Mexico had previously appeared eager to avoid a major showdown with the United States on the corn issue. On March 7, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said consultations continued, but suggested Mexico would still seek to implement some form of ban.