Mexican civil society groups with their allies in the United States and Canada provided statements to the official U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade dispute process defending Mexico’s right to limit genetically modified (GM) corn and glyphosate. Under USMCA dispute rules, non-governmental entities were able to submit requests outlining longer submissions that they would develop to inform the dispute resolution process. Ten of the 13 requests to submit comments of up to 10 pages were initially accepted, according to a letter from the USMCA Secretariat, but invitations to the two Canadian groups were later rescinded. See an analysis of the panel's decisions in this Food Tank article.
The NGO contributions were posted April 5 in English and Spanish along with the formal submission (also in Spanish) by the Canadian government, which is a third party observer in the dispute. The U.S. written complaint and Mexico's detailed, science-based response are also available, downloaded from the USMCA public webpage for the dispute. IATP has posted an analysis of Mexico's response and will soon publish an article on the range of issues covered by the NGO contributions, which enrich the public debate on how trade rules could limit — or allow for — sustainable solutions that advance public health, human rights and economic opportunities.
Read the requests and official submission in support of Mexico's corn policies below:
- ANEC (Asociación Nacional de Empresas Comercializadoras de Productores del Campo): Mexican farmer organization on the unique nature of maize in Mexico, from production to consumption to ecosystem integrity. (Accepted)
- Grupo Vicente Guerrero: Mexican farmers’ organization on the need to protect integrated local production systems and healthy diets. (Accepted)
- PODER: Mexico-based organization on Indigenous rights to protection. (Accepted)
- Poder del Consumidor: Mexican consumer organization on the importance and sensitivity of maize in Mexico. (Accepted)
- Semillas de Vida: Mexican organization focused on seeds on the unique biocultural heritage of corn and the need for precautionary measures. (Accepted)
- Center for Food Safety: U.S. center on the science justifying Mexico's GM corn restrictions as a necessary form of risk assessment in the absence of adequate U.S. studies. (Accepted)
- Friends of the Earth U.S.: U.S. environmental organization on the science supporting Mexico's claim of health risks. (Accepted)
- The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Rural Coalition and Alianza Nacional de Campesinas: U.S. farmers and research organizations on the USMCA obligations to protect native corn as protection of Indigenous rights. (Accepted)
- Farm Action: U.S. organization focusing on stopping corporate monopolies in rural America, comment focused on the availability of non-GMO corn production in the U.S. (Rejected)
- Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University: U.S. academic researcher on the limited impacts on trade and the small economic harm to U.S. producers. (Rejected)
- Op-ed: "Hardline U.S. Stance Ignores Non-GM Corn Opportunity for U.S. Farmers," by Timothy A. Wise, IATP senior advisor and Ken Roseboro, publisher of The Organic and Non-GMO Report. Published in English by Food Tank and in Spanish by Contralina.
- National Farmers Union: Canadian farmers’ organization on Canada’s treaty obligations to respect biodiversity and Indigenous rights. (Rejected)
- Canadian Biotechnology Action Network: Canadian network on inadequate scientific risk assessment in Canada, as well as U.S., on GM crops. (Accepted then rescinded.)
- Northumberland Chapter of the Council of Canadians: Canadian network on the role of Canada in pressuring Mexico and the need for a precautionary approach. (Accepted then rescinded.)
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the world's largest biotech trade association, also submitted written comments. BIO's comments (in English and Spanish) are in support of the U.S.' actions. (BIO comments are downloaded from the USMCA Secretariat website).
Canadian NGO' responded to their government's submission with a press release and analysis from CBAN and a declaration circulated by NFU and signed by 31 Canadian organizations.
Learn more:
In our recent article, read more about the distinct but overlapping themes that emerged in the submissions, and learn more about the next steps in the trade dispute process.
Read op-eds by members of civil society on the trade dispute here.
Learn more about the USMCA GM corn dispute between the U.S. and Mexico here.
