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Ernst Celebrates Win Over Mexico Corn Ban

For years, Ernst has stood up for Iowa corn farmers and kept up the pressure to hold Mexico accountable.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, celebrated a major win for Iowa’s farmers after a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute panel sided with the United States against Mexico’s unscientific ban of genetically modified corn.

The action follows continued pressure on behalf of Iowa farmers. Mexico’s decision, a clear violation of the USMCA, would stifle the market for Iowa corn growers who have exported 16 million tons of corn to Mexico each year.

“Today is a huge win for Iowa farmers! After continued pressure, finally, we are ending Mexico’s absurd and baseless biotech corn ban. As the top corn producers in the country, Iowa farmers have been anxiously awaiting this victory. I will continue to defend the livelihoods of hardworking Iowans and make sure the U.S. is holding Mexico to its science-based commitment under the USMCA,” said Ernst.

Background:

In 2022, Senators Ernst and Grassleydemanded the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) intervene in Mexico’s plan to end U.S. genetically modified corn imports.

In December 2022, a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing their concerns over Mexico’s decree.

In March 2023, Ernst called for USTR to intervene on Mexico’s restrictive ban and advocate for a dispute panel, as afforded under the USMCA.

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