After Push from Budzinski, U.S. Trade Representative Announces Negotiations with Mexico on Corn Import Restrictions

WASHINGTON — Today, following a push from U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Darin LaHood (IL-16), Bill Foster (IL-11), Mike Bost (IL-12) and Mary Miller (IL-15),the U.S. Trade Representative announced technical consultations with the Government of Mexico under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). These consultations will focus on Mexico’s ban on genetically modified (GM) corn from the United States.

“It’s clear that Mexico’s ban on genetically modified corn from the United States is inconsistent with the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement. That’s why I was honored to lead a bipartisan group of my colleagues from Illinois in a letter urging the U.S. Trade Representative to keep all options on the table to enforce these trade commitments,” said Congresswoman Budzinski.“I’m glad to see Ambassador Tai taking action against these restrictions and I look forward to monitoring negotiations to ensure this market remains open to Illinois’ family farmers.”  

Last week, Budzinski led a bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers in a letter urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to keep all options on the table to enforce trade commitments as Mexico considers a ban on GM corn from the United States. The letter also requested updates on any negotiations with Mexico from Ambassador Tai.

Illinois farmers are the second-largest producer of corn in the United States, with a large majority of such corn grown with GM seeds.