Decision on Mexico-U.S. Corn Dispute Expected This Fall

The U.S. made a strong case under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in the dispute with Mexico over genetically engineered corn. Doug McKalip, chief agricultural negotiator in the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, spoke during the recent National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Congress in Washington, D.C. “We will not rest on this until we get it done,” McKalip said. “It’s critically important not just for corn growers, but farmers of all kinds. If they can do this with corn, they can do it with anything.” He also said the U.S. cannot allow its trading partners to play “fast and loose” with the science. Both U.S. and Mexican officials were given questions by the panel considering the matter and both have responded. A decision is expected sometime this fall. The NCGA’s Corn Congress meets every summer in the nation’s capital to vote on policy positions, elect new board members, and hear from elected officials.