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U.S. awaiting Mexico’s response on GMO corn

The president of the National Corn Growers Association says he’s glad the U.S. is in consultations with Mexico on the GMO corn ban.

Tom Haag, a Minnesota farmer, tells Brownfield this was a topic discussed with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Commodity Classic and Mexico has 30 days to respond to the United States.

“What’s going to be interesting is at the end of that 30 days which way Mexico will respond,” says Haag. Secretary Vilsack also said Canada is coming in and saying to the Mexican government you need to obey the scientific law of GMO products that you signed and accept them.”

Earlier this month, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said it would be asking for technical consultations under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Mexico is a top importer of U.S. corn.

Haag says the NCGA will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Doug McKalip when farmer board members are in Washington D.C. next week.