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Time is of the essence to address GMO corn ban

The CEO of National Association of State Departments of Agriculture says it was the right time for Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to make the trip to Mexico to discuss the GMO corn ban. Ted McKinney tells Brownfield time is running out.

“If there are no changes, you’re only left to the devices built into the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which could be a multi-month legal case. You need to start that about now or at the latest, January,” says McKinney. “For Secretary Vilsack to make the trip to Mexico that means there was support of the White House. Some of us did not know where the White House stood on this. That means there’s an alignment.”

He says there are conflicting messages being sent by Mexico on whether GM corn imports will be allowed for livestock feed.

“When Under Secretary Suarez made the statement Mexico would be looking at other forms of sourcing non-GM corn. It’s perplexing. There is non-GMO seed, but seed corn supplies aren’t large enough for the U.S. to meet Mexico’s needs (in a quick turnaround).”

McKinney says Mexico needs to follow through on its commitment to the U.S., ensuring corn trade is not disrupted.

“If the president of Mexico is committed, this can be a very short and simple process. Let the laws that have been practiced for decades be applied and work properly and then, there would need to be reversals on rejections of some of the biotech traits rejected,” says McKinney. “There should be no question about the science of GMOs in Mexico. NASDA’s counterpart in Mexico should darn well know biotech safety shouldn’t be in question.”

Hear the interview.

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