First it was because of the rules of origin; then by the energy policy of the Mexican government. Now, it seems that a new dispute is coming within the framework of the T-MEC between Mexico and the United States over genetically modified or transgenic corn .
The goal of the federal government is to replace the purchase of transgenic corn with local production. Here are five key facts to understand this conflict.
1. In 2018, when Andrés Manuel López Obrador swore in as president of Mexico, he highlighted the ban on the production of transgenic crops in the country.
2. In December 2020, López Obrador signed a decree seeking to replace the import of 16 million tons of yellow corn, mainly from the United States and almost all of it genetically modified, by 2024.
3. In 2021, Mexico imported more than 16.5 million tons of yellow corn, according to information from the National Directorate of Light Industries of the Ministry of Economy (SE).
4. AgroBio, an association that lists companies such as Monsanto and Energy, commented that the prohibition of transgenics will result in an increase in production costs for some crops.
5. The United States does not rule out the possibility of going to the T-MEC to "pressure" the prohibition of the importation of transgenic corn. US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he is in talks with Mexican officials on the issue.
