US Groups Accuse Mexico of Evading USMCA Ruling on Genetically Modified Corn, Digi Mart USA News: Four U.S. organizations involved in the production, export and marketing of grains and seeds have accused Mexico of using ambiguous regulations to evade a ruling by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on imports of genetically modified corn.
The associations argue that various legal and administrative provisions could maintain restrictions that the trade panel ruled should be eliminated in December 2024.
The complaints were submitted to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as part of a public consultation for the preparation of its 2027 National Trade Estimate report on foreign trade barriers. Among the points questioned are Mexico’s constitutional reform on genetically modified corn and new powers that the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) would have to evaluate its uses.
The associations that submitted comments are the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).
According to their claims, Mexico could maintain import obstacles through existing laws, administrative procedures and new legislative proposals.
One of the main concerns is directed at the 2025 constitutional reform, which prohibited the cultivation of genetically modified corn and established that its other uses must be evaluated to prevent risks to biosafety, health and biocultural heritage. The organizations believe the provision does not clearly define the evaluation criteria or the responsible authorities, which could open the door to restrictions on grain destined for industrial use and animal feed.
Another point raised by the associations is Article 166 of the draft General Law on Ecological Balance, presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum. According to the organizations, this provision would give Semarnat, headed by Alicia Bárcena, powers to evaluate uses of genetically modified corn other than planting.
They also questioned the fact that draft standard NOM-187, prepared in 2021 to restrict the use of genetically modified corn in tortillas and their derivatives, has not been formally discarded.
The complaints come as Mexico maintains a high dependence on grain imports. According to estimates from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the country would import 27.7 million metric tons during the 2026-2027 crop year, compared with 27 million in the previous period. In addition, the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035 projects that Mexico will retain its position as the world’s top corn importer over that period.
