The president spoke Monday with US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who warned that Washington could resort to the North American Free Trade Agreement over Mexico’s decision to phase out the use of genetically modified corn by 2024.
“We are not in a closed position,” López Obrador said at a press conference when asked about the controversy, which according to the neighboring nation threatens to generate serious losses for companies that export millions of tons of the product to the Latin American country.
At the end of September, Secretary Tom Vilsack said that his country could refer to the USMCA to challenge Mexico’s policies if necessary.
“I recognize the importance of 2023 in terms of getting clarity on exactly where we are,” he said.
“We need to press the issue and this year we will take the necessary and appropriate steps to raise this issue in one or two points as we get closer to 2024.”
Mexico is one of the main buyers of US corn.
With information from Reuters
