80 Groups Blast US Interference in Mexico's Phaseout of Glyphosate and GM Corn

A coalition of 80 U.S. agricultural, consumer, environmental, public health, and worker groups sent a letter Thursday to key figures in the Biden administration calling for them to "Respect Mexico's sovereignty and refrain from interfering with its right to enact health-protective policies"-specifically, the phaseout of the herbicide glyphosate and the cultivation of genetically modified corn.

"Almost all of that is yellow corn for animal feed and industrial uses. López Obrador's commitment to reducing and, by 2024, eliminating such imports reflects his administration's plan to ramp up Mexican production as part of the campaign to increase self-sufficiency in corn and other key food crops." The groups' letter on the Mexican policies and U.S. interference-published in English and Spanish-is addressed to recently confirmed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

The letter highlights Guardian reporting on U.S. government documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The documents revealed that CropLife America and Bayer AG-which acquired glyphosate-based herbicide developer Monsanto in 2018-worked with U.S. officials to lobby against Mexico's plans.

According to journalist Carey Gillam's mid-February report: The emails reviewed by the Guardian come from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and other U.S. agencies.

The records then show the USTR does exactly that, telling Mexico its actions on glyphosate and genetically engineered crops raise concerns "Regarding compliance" with USMCA. Citing discussions with CropLife, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joined in the effort, discussing in an inter-agency email "How we could use USMCA to work through these issues." The Guardian also noted correspondence involving the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As the letter to Vilsack and Tai points out: "This interference and pressure from the agrochemical industry is continuing. On March 22nd, industry representatives sent a letter directed to your attention as leaders of USTR and USDA, identifying Mexico's planned phaseout of glyphosate and genetically modified corn as a 'leading concern' for agribusiness interests and the pesticide industry." "We strongly object to any interference by U.S. government officials or agribusiness interests in a sovereign state's right to enact policy measures to protect the health and well-being of its people," the letter states.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/04/29/80-groups-blast-us-interference-mexicos-phaseout-glyphosate-and-gm-corn