By Adriana Barrera
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s decrease home of Congress on Tuesday permitted a constitutional reform to ban the planting of genetically modified (GM) corn, a transfer that would result in extra stress with the US after the decision of a commerce dispute, analysts stated.
The initiative by President Claudia Sheinbaum comes after a trade-dispute panel dominated in December that Mexico’s restrictions on GM corn, largely imported from the US, violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
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Because of the USMCA panel ruling, Mexico repealed its import restrictions on GM corn for human, livestock and industrial makes use of.
Mexico, the birthplace of recent corn, had already prohibited the business planting of GM corn strains, arguing they may contaminate native strains of the grain, however Sheinbaum pledged to formally prohibit the planting of GM corn inside its territory by way of the Structure.
With Sheinbaum’s reform permitted with 409 votes in favor and 69 in opposition to, native corn is branded as an “factor of nationwide id” and GM corn is formally banned from being planted in Mexico.
“Every other use of genetically modified corn should be evaluated … to be freed from threats to the biosecurity, well being and biocultural heritage of Mexico and its inhabitants,” the textual content of the reform states.
The reform will now go to the Senate for closing approval.
Mexico buys about $5 billion of U.S. GM corn annually, largely for livestock feed.
Some analysts stated the reform might spark a brand new controversy with the U.S. as a result of it additionally refers to the usage of GM corn, and never simply the planting of the grain.
The Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA), a serious consultancy in Mexico stated the federal government’s choice to strengthen its place in opposition to GM corn generates “uncertainty” within the relationship with the US, its major supply of yellow corn imports, that are primarily devoted to livestock feed.
“Following the adversarial ruling by the USMCA dispute panel, the insistence on these restrictions is more likely to set off retaliatory measures by the US authorities,” GCMA stated in a latest report.
(Reporting by Adriana Barrera; Writing by Cassandra Garrison; Enhancing by Sandra Maler)
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