U.S. Corn Growers Continue Pushback Against Mexico GM Corn Ban

On January 31, 2023 - one year before Mexico’s proposed ban on GM corn imports was set to be implemented - U.S. corn growers continued their pushback against the move in a briefing with the U.S. Congress. The briefing was hosted by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and involved a panel including Tom Haag, president of NGCA, U.S. Representative Adrian Smith of Nebraska, and Jason Hafemeister, acting deputy director of trade with the USDA.

Mexico imports approximately 17 million tons of GM corn per year with the U.S. being the main supplier. A recent study released by World Perspectives found that if Mexico follows through on the ban, the U.S. corn industry would lose $3.56 billion in the first year, followed by a loss of $5.56 billion in the second year, and ultimately, an economic loss of $13.61 billion over a ten-year period.

When taking a broader view of the effects this ban would have on the overall U.S. economy, the study projected a loss of $73.89 billion in economic output and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracting by $30.55 billion in accordance with the loss of 30,000 jobs and labor income falling by $18 billion.

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