WASHINGTON, D.C. – CropLife America (CLA) applauds the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for requesting formal technical consultations with the Mexican government under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) free-trade agreement to address a long-standing agricultural technology trade issue. This announcement enforces Mexico’s trade commitments made in the USCMA and addresses concerns voiced by many in the U.S. agriculture community, including CLA, regarding the Mexican government’s regulatory decree that would impact the sale and use of some biotechnology traits and pesticides in Mexico. CLA has maintained that these Mexican regulatory actions ignore science- and risk-based regulations and the scientific weight of evidence from regulatory bodies around the world.   

Mexico has been, and remains, a valuable trading partner for U.S. agriculture through NAFTA and now USMCA. USTR’s announcement states that the U.S. has, “…repeatedly conveyed our serious concerns with Mexico’s biotechnology policies and the importance of adopting a science-based approach that complies with its USMCA commitments.” CLA shares this concern and is encouraged by USTR’s focus on the need for a science-based regulatory approach. We support the administration’s enforcement of a rules-based trading system for agricultural innovation and encourage USTR to also address regulatory delays and barriers that are impacting pesticide registrations in Mexico. CLA is committed to helping ensure that growers in both Mexico and the U.S. have the tools and resources needed to grow a safe, healthy, and sustainable food supply.  

We look forward to working with our grower and industry allies in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to provide feedback and insights as this process continues.