Months of Advocacy Spurs Action on Mexico’s Corn Ban

The U.S. Trade Representative’s recent announcement that it has requested dispute settlement consultations against Mexico over its decree banning biotech corn used for human consumption came after months of intense advocacy by state grower-leaders who joined the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) in calling for action.

The concern by U.S. farmers stems from a 2020 decree by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that sought to ban imports of biotech corn beginning in January 2024. Mexico issued a revised decree in February of this year that banned biotech corn for human consumption effective immediately and left the door open for a future ban on all biotech corn.

Since Mexico is a top market for U.S. corn, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association has been working with NCGA, members of Congress, state and national media, and officials at USTR and USDA to hold Mexico accountable for its commitments under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).