CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
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© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
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© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
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© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Jun 06 (IPS) – On June 2, the U.S. authorities escalated its battle with Mexico over that nation’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution course of underneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
It is just the most recent in a decades-long U.S. assault on Mexico’s meals sovereignty utilizing the blunt instrument of a commerce settlement that has inundated Mexico with low cost corn, wheat, and different staples, undermining Mexico’s capability to provide its personal meals. With the federal government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador exhibiting no indicators of backing down, the battle might properly check the extent to which a serious exporter can use a commerce settlement to pressure a sovereign nation to desert measures it deems mandatory to guard public well being and the surroundings.
The Science of Precaution
The measures in query are these contained within the Mexican president’s decree, introduced in late 2020 and up to date in February 2023, to ban the cultivation of genetically modified corn, part out using the herbicide glyphosate by 2024, and prohibit using genetically modified corn in tortillas and corn flour. The acknowledged targets have been to guard public well being and the surroundings, notably the wealthy biodiversity of native corn that may be compromised by uncontrolled pollination from GM corn crops.
The place the unique decree vowed to part out all makes use of of GM corn, the up to date decree withdrew restrictions on GM corn in animal feed and industrial merchandise, pending additional scientific examine of impacts on human well being and the surroundings. Some 96% of U.S. corn exports to Mexico, almost all of it GM corn, fall in that class. It’s unclear how a lot of the remaining exports, principally white corn, are destined for Mexico’s tortilla/corn flour industries.
These have been vital concessions. In any case, there isn’t any commerce restriction on GM corn. Mexico shouldn’t be even limiting GM white corn imports, simply their use in tortillas.
As Mexico’s Financial system Ministry famous in its short response, Mexico will present that its present measures have little influence on U.S. exporters, as a result of Mexico is self-sufficient in white and native corn. Any future substitution of non-GM corn is not going to contain commerce restrictions however will come from Mexico’s investments in lowering import dependence by selling elevated home manufacturing of corn and different key staples. The assertion additionally famous that USMCA’s surroundings chapter obligates nations to guard biodiversity, and for Mexico, the place corn was first domesticated and the eating regimen and tradition are so outlined by it, corn biodiversity is a prime precedence.
As for the assertion that Mexico’s considerations about GM corn and glyphosate usually are not based mostly on science, the USTR motion got here on the heels of an unprecedented five weeks of public forums convened by Mexico’s nationwide science companies to evaluate the dangers and risks. Greater than fifty Mexican and worldwide specialists introduced proof that justifies the precautionary measures taken by the federal government. (I summarized some of the evidence in an earlier article.)
Three Many years of U.S. Agricultural Dumping
These measures spring from deep concern concerning the deterioration of Mexicans’ diets and public well being because the nation has step by step adopted what some have known as “the neoliberal diet.” Mexico has displaced america because the world chief in childhood weight problems as diets wealthy in native corn and different conventional meals have been changed by ultraprocessed meals and drinks excessive in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers discovered that for the reason that North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) was enacted in 1994, america has been “exporting obesity.”
The López Obrador authorities lately stood as much as the highly effective meals and beverage trade to mandate stark warning labels on meals excessive in these unhealthy components. Its restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate circulation from the identical dedication to public well being.
So does the federal government’s marketing campaign to scale back import-dependence in key meals crops – corn, wheat, rice, beans, and dairy. However as I doc in a brand new IATP coverage report, “Swimming Against the Tide,” low cost U.S. exports proceed to undermine such efforts.
We documented that in 17 of the 28 years since NAFTA took impact, america has exported corn, wheat, rice, and different staple crops at costs under what it price to provide them. That’s an unfair commerce follow often known as agricultural dumping, and it springs from persistent overproduction of such merchandise in that nation’s closely industrialized agriculture.
Simply when NAFTA eradicated lots of the coverage measures Mexico might use to restrict such imports, U.S. overproduction hit a crescendo, the results of its personal deregulation of agricultural markets. Corn exports to Mexico jumped greater than 400% by 2006, with these exports priced at 19% under what it price to provide them. Once more, from 2014 to 2020, corn costs have been 10% under manufacturing prices, simply as Mexico started searching for to stimulate home manufacturing.
We calculated that Mexico’s corn farmers misplaced $3.8 billion in these seven years from depressed costs for his or her crops. Wheat farmers misplaced $2.1 billion from U.S. exports priced 27% under manufacturing prices.
To date, the Mexican authorities has had little success rising home manufacturing of its precedence meals, although larger worldwide costs in 2021 and 2022 offered a wanted stimulus for farmers.
So too have artistic authorities initiatives, together with an innovative public procurement scheme simply as the big white corn harvest is available in throughout northern Mexico. With corn and wheat costs falling some 20% in current weeks, the federal government is shopping for up about 40% of the harvest from small and medium-scale farmers at larger costs with the aim of giving bigger producers the bargaining energy to then demand larger costs from the big grain-buyers that dominate the tortilla trade.
Swimming In opposition to the Neoliberal Tide
With its dedication to public well being, the surroundings, and elevated home manufacturing of primary staples, the Mexican authorities is certainly swimming towards sturdy neoliberal tides. Remarkably, it’s doing so whereas nonetheless complying with its commerce settlement with america and Canada.
Earlier than U.S. commerce officers additional escalate the dispute over GM corn, they need to look within the mirror and ask themselves if three a long time of agricultural dumping are per the foundations of honest worldwide commerce. And why Mexico doesn’t have each proper to make sure that its tortillas usually are not tainted with GM corn and glyphosate.
For extra on the GM corn controversy, see IATP’s useful resource web page, “Food Sovereignty, Trade, and Mexico’s GMO Corn Policies.”
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
