Canada asked for formal consultations with Mexico over the Latin American nation’s restrictions on genetically modified agricultural imports under their free-trade agreement, following a separate request by the US focused on corn earlier this week.
The move came a day after the Biden administration asked for consultations on biotech farm products including corn under the US-Mexico-Canada agreement’s chapter on food-safety measures. Those are a prerequisite for formal dispute-resolution talks, like those that the countries have already had on automobiles and energy. Dispute talks could be requested if the technical discussions don’t take place or don’t lead to a resolution.
The Mexican government has moved to limit imports and use of GMO corn, saying that it could pose a danger to the health of the nation’s citizens. The US has taken the lead in pushing back, saying that Mexico’s concerns aren’t based in science.
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But [Canada] is concerned overall about Mexico putting arbitrary prohibitions on agriculture produced using biotechnology, according to the people familiar with the matter. Canada is the world’s top producer and exporter of canola, a genetically-modified crop that is used in everything from deep-frying to salad dressing, with Mexico one of the top buyers.
