The Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, announced this Monday that he will impose tariffs on the import of white corn and will defend the ban on transgenic grain despite the friction within the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC).
“(There is) an agreement that I am about to sign this week so that only white and non-transgenic corn is used in tortilla shops, and this is going to be accompanied by the establishment of tariffs so that white corn is not imported and that it is purchased from producers national”, declared the president in his daily press conference.
His announcement occurs despite the fact that Mexico received on June 2 a request from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to initiate consultations under Chapter 31 (dispute settlement) of the USMCA against the ban on corn transgenic.
Canada joined the consultations on June 9 by sharing “US concern that Mexico’s measures are not scientifically supported and may unnecessarily disrupt trade in the North American market”.
But López Obrador maintained his position this Monday by showing his willingness to reach a dispute settlement panel.
“We are putting order and there is no need to be afraid of controversies because we do want to strengthen our economic and commercial relations. Mexico is the main economic trade partner of the United States”, he stated.
The friction has grown since the decree issued by the Government of Mexico last February, which prevents the use of yellow or transgenic corn for human consumption, although it sets a two-year term for the arrival of this grain for fodder.
The annoyance has risen in the United States because Mexico is the second destination of its exports.
The Mexican president assured that “they are working” with Washington, they have explained what the position of the Government of Mexico is and have “given options”, such as carrying out joint studies to define the damage caused by yellow or transgenic maize.
“They continue to insist that yellow corn can be used for human consumption and we are not going to allow it, that is why this consultation is and it may lead us to a panel, but it is a matter of public health“, said.
The taxes on imports of white corn will be added to the 50% tariffs on exports of this grain that the Government decreed in January as a measure against inflation to encourage this cereal to remain in the country, which is used for basic diet and making tortillas.
Source: EFE
Source: Gestion
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