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Senators expressed concerns about Mexico’s plan to ban the import of genetically engineered corn throughout a Wednesday listening to on the 2023 farm bill, a bit of laws that units U.S. requirements for agriculture and associated coverage.
In 2020, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador introduced the nation would prohibit genetically modified corn by 2024, prompting U.S. lawmakers to fret that the change would damage American farmers and violate commerce agreements.
Alexis Taylor, underneath secretary for commerce and international agricultural affairs for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), answered questions from lawmakers Wednesday about the response to López Obrador’s decree.
“As it is for many other genetically engineered products that have been studied for decades, the safety of these products are not in question,” Taylor stated.
Congress should cross laws often called the farm bill each 5 years to set requirements for agriculture, vitamin, forestry and conservation. The Senate Agriculture Committee started the method final yr by holding area hearings in Michigan and Arkansas.
The Wednesday committee listening to targeted on commerce and horticulture, with López Obrador’s announcement on the forefront of lawmakers’ minds.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) requested Taylor about the Biden administration’s response to the GMO corn ban and if they’d implement commerce agreements between the U.S. and Mexico within the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“In the meantime, the administration has refused to trigger the USMCA to contest Mexico’s planned exclusion of American corn,” Marshall stated. “What are we waiting for? What are we waiting for to trigger this mechanism? I mean, I’m tired of talking about it, forming committees and praying about it. We think it’s time for action.”
Taylor stated she visited Mexico two weeks in the past to focus on concerns about the ban and that officers are nonetheless working to discover a answer, given the USDA stated the ban may disrupt “billions of dollars” in commerce.
“We have been very clear that the USMCA gives us a process to go down if we cannot find resolution on this issue and that we reserve all of those rights,” Taylor stated. “But at least today we are still productively engaging and hope to find a resolution that doesn’t disrupt trade, impact our producers and ultimately impact negatively Mexican livestock producers who are dependent on this product as well.”
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) led a bipartisan group of 25 senators in writing a letter in December expressing concern about Mexico’s proposed prohibition of genetically engineered corn.
“I appreciate [Taylor] standing firm on that and making it clear that GMOs are safe, they are secure, they are healthy, they help to feed the world,” Fischer stated.
Senators additionally requested witnesses about worldwide meals assist applications, tips on how to strengthen international and home markets and defending science-based developments within the agriculture trade.
Committee hearings to debate commodity applications, crop insurance coverage and credit score, vitamin applications, conservation, and forestry will proceed in coming weeks as a part of drafting this yr’s farm bill.
Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) emphasised the importance of prioritizing help for American farmers within the laws.
“Whether they are selling to their neighbors or exporting products globally — and whether they are growing traditional commodities, specialty crops, or organics — the farm bill helps farmers put food on tables here and around the world,” Stabenow stated. “We all have a stake in continuing to make sure this happens. That’s what this farm bill is all about.”
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