By: Ian Sheldon, Professor and Andersons Chair of Agricultural Marketing, Trade, and Policy, Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, Ohio State University; Seungki Lee, Assistant Professor, Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, Ohio State University and Chris Zoller, Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension – Tuscarawas County
Background to the Dispute
The recent announcement by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) that it was requesting technical consultations with Mexico under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Chapter of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), is the latest step in the ongoing dispute over Mexican efforts to ban imports of genetically modified (GM) corn (Office of USTR, March 6, 2023).
The dispute has its origins in a decree issued by the Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on December 31, 2020, calling for GM corn for human consumption to be phased out by the end of January 2024 (Reuters, February 13, 2023). Not surprisingly, given Mexico is the second-largest export market for US corn totaling $4.792 billion in 2022 (USDA/FAS, 2021) (see Figure 1), with about 17 million metric tons of yellow corn crossing the border annually (USDA/ERS, December 13, 2022), the original decree ratcheted up trade tensions between the two countries. Following US pressure, Mexico scrapped the 2024 deadline banning GM corn for animal feed and industrial use on February 13, 2023, all the while retaining the ban on its use for human consumption (Reuters, February 13, 2023).
Despite these changes, the recent move by USTR is essentially the first step in the process by which the USMCA dispute settlement mechanism is triggered, once other efforts/mechanisms to resolve the issue have failed – specifically, in its response to a letter from USTR, Mexico did not “…allay U.S. concerns with Mexico’s measures concerning [genetically engineered] GE corn….Therefore, the United States does not consider that further use of other mechanisms would resolve the matter…” (Ambassador Katherine Tai, USTR, March 6, 2023).
Dispute Settlement under USMCA
Like the World Trade Organization (WTO), USMCA has a defined legal process by which trade disputes involving its member countries are to be settled. Once other procedures have been exhausted, technical consultations are the first stage of the process, USTR appealing to Chapter 9 of the USMCA addressing SPS measures,
“…Pursuant to Article 9.19.2, the United States requests technical consultations with Mexico with regard to Mexico’s measures concerning genetically engineered (GE) corn and certain other GE products. These measures may adversely affect U.S. trade with Mexico and appear to be inconsistent with Mexico’s commitments under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures chapter of USMCA…” (Ambassador Katherine Tai, USTR, March 6, 2023)
Substantively, USTR is arguing that in seeking to implement its regime on GM corn imports, Mexico is violating its commitment to ensure any SPS measures are “…based on relevant scientific principles…” (Article 9.6.6(b)), and an “…approval procedure that requires a risk assessment…” (Article 9.6.4 (a)). Therefore, the United States and Mexico should meet with “…the aim of resolving the matter cooperatively…” (Article 9.19.3)
If this fails, under Chapter 31 of USMCA concerning dispute settlement, the United States can seek establishment of an independent panel to investigate and rule on Mexico’s measures relating to GM corn, which, once constituted, would be expected to present its initial report within 150 days (Article 31.17.1). After a further period of 60 days, allowing for country comments and finalization of the report, the report would be made public (Article 31.17). Assuming the panel rules against Mexico, resolution of the dispute should then occur within 45 days, Mexico either removing its GM corn measures, providing compensation to the United States, or provision of some other remedy (Article 31.18.2). If Mexico fails to implement the panel ruling, the United States would be allowed to suspend trade benefits with Mexico equivalent to the damage caused by the latter’s GM corn measures (Article 31.19.1), most likely in the form of a tariff(s) against specific Mexican products.
How Might a USMCA Panel Rule?
In thinking about how a USMCA panel might rule, it is important to note the chapter on SPS measures draws heavily on the approach applied in the WTO’s own SPS Agreement, the definitions contained in the latter being incorporated into the USMCA chapter on SPS measures. Therefore, while the United States is not expected to file a complaint against Mexico under WTO rules, it seems reasonable to argue the 2006 WTO ruling in favor of the United States against the European Union’s (EU) regulation of GM crops would likely influence any USMCA panel ruling. The WTO panel found the safeguard measures implemented by six EU member states against the import of specific GM crops, were not based on a risk assessment as required under the WTO’s SPS Agreement (Sheldon, Brown Journal of World Affairs, 2007). In other words, a USMCA panel is very likely to find for the United States against Mexico on the grounds that Mexico has not applied scientific principles and appropriate risk assessment in seeking to ban the import of GM corn.
Implications for the Ohio Corn Market
The direct economic impact of not resolving this dispute on the Ohio corn market would likely be modest, given the modest reported value of Ohio corn exports to Mexico over the past two years, as compared to the 10-year average of $6.64 million, and the small proportion of white corn in US corn exports (see Figure 1). Specifically, over the last two years, Mexico accounted for only 2 percent of corn exports from Ohio, while Canada and Asia accounted for the largest shares at 39 and 35 percent respectively (see Figure 2). There are two reasons for these export market shares: Mexico’s import diversification and increased use of Brazilian corn (S&P Global Commodity Insights, December 29, 2022), and strength of the US dollar.
However, two broader factors could result in substantial indirect impacts on Ohio farmers. First, there would likely be a “ripple” effect as additional supplies are diverted to the domestic market, driving down corn prices. As a result, Ohio corn farmers would likely see increased risk of a squeeze on their margins. Second, and more broadly, if this dispute is not resolved in favor of the United States, it would introduce considerable regulatory uncertainty, with the potential of undermining the stable operation of commodity markets. This could increase the cost of any risk management measures such as hedging and options, placing further financial strain on Ohio grain producers.
Figure 1. Corn Exports to Mexico (MX)
Note: Corn export graphs (bars and scatters) correspond to the left-axis. Exports from US to MX are in billion dollars, and exports from Ohio to MX are in 10 million dollars. The line graph stands for the portion of white corn in total corn exports to MX and corresponds to the right-axis.
Source: US Census Bureau
Figure 2. Corn Exports from Ohio
Source: US Census Bureau
Planning for 2023
This latest development is another example of volatility in commodity markets and shows how world events impact US and Ohio agriculture. As you plan for the 2023 planting season, we encourage you to know your cost of production and understand the impact to your returns if the commodity market drops. How do a five, ten, and twenty percent drop in price impact your bottomline?
We encourage you to invest time developing cropping budgets. If you are looking for guidance in budget development, please see the 2023 OSU Extension Production Budgets available here: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-management/enterprise-budgets#2022.
