Mexico?s upcoming ban on U.S. imports of genetically modified corn or corn grown with glyphosate won?t be changed in any way, according to Mexico?s deputy ag minister. Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of the State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) said the U.S. has been respectful of Mexico?s decision not to deviate from their long-time corn production methods.
?This all started back when biotech came along and they said we’re not going to plant any of that because we, Mexico, are the origin of maize,? McKinney said. ?Well, okay, but we’ve been developing plants and animals since the Garden of Eden or whatever your starting point would be. It’s a little interesting to find that you’re not going to advance your agriculture in your productivity and the will of your people, but that’s what it is and so we’ve respected that. Now, that’s starting to change a little bit and those impositions are being thrown back at us in our farmers.?
McKinney said new corn hybrid developments here in the U.S. have not been yet used because of that issue.
?The troubling part is there are some traits now that are being held back,? McKinney said. ?They have not been placed in new hybrids because of the respect for that market. We’ve got to get that straightened out.?
McKinney added that he believes Mexico has too much to lose if they end up going through with their import ban.
?I think pressure will grow on them, not just from the U.S., but from many countries like Brazil, Argentina, and others because it’s not science and it?s not well-founded,? McKinney said. ?They need our corn and our soy meal. They can’t go anywhere else and get it for anywhere near the price of what it comes from the U.S., so it’s got to get fixed.?
The upcoming ban, which was issued via decree by Mexico?s President in late 2020, could cause billions of dollars of economic harm to both countries. However, Mexico says they plan to make agreements with individual corn producers across the U.S., according to Reuters.
Mexico?s ban is set to take effect on Jan. 31, 2024.
