A trade dispute panel has ruled against Mexico’s restrictions on the use of genetically modified (GM or genetically engineered) corn, siding with the US and Canada in forcing Mexico to remove its restrictions on the use of GM corn for food. Mexico’s restrictions were challenged under the Canada-United States-Mexico trade agreement (CUSMA) by the US government, with support from Canada as third party. The decision was released at the end of the day on Friday, December 20. Click here to read our press release.
The panel has ruled that Mexico must lift restrictions on the use of GM corn in food but states,“The Panel accepts that Mexico is seeking to address genuine concerns in good faith”. The Mexican government says it will comply with the decision but maintains that its restrictions are in line with the principles of public health and the rights of Indigenous peoples.
“This decision offends International Human Rights law and the natural law of our communities, which understand seeds and plants as living beings, not commodities. Corn is our ancestor, mother, and life-giver, and we have tended to her for millennia—this is a serious threat to our people’s spiritual and physical health.” – Celeste Smith, Founder/Director of Cultural Seeds & Ga Gitigemi Gamik, North America Focal Point of the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples Mechanism at the Committee on World Food Security, and Co-Chair of the National Farmers Union International Program Committee.
Commitment and Call to Action
The Mexican campaign Sin Maíz No Hay País (No Corn, No Country) has issued a press statement that includes their analysis of the decision and asks you to share their statement. Click here to read their full statement.
This is their commitment and call to action:
“The national ‘No Corn, No Country’ campaign reaffirms its commitment to continue the struggle against GM corn and in favor of food sovereignty, biodiversity and the defense of native corn. We urgently call on civil society organizations, collectives and the more than 100,000 people who have expressed their support for Mexico’s sovereign decision to protect its native corn and food, to disseminate this statement.
It is essential that we continue to demand that the Mexican government maintain its firm stance against GM maize in the face of transnational interests. We invite society in general to share this statement and to continue to raise our voices in defense of our sovereignty, our health and biocultural heritage.”
Read more information and responses at cban.ca/trade.