Peru’s Path Forward: Navigating Political, Economic, and Global Dynamics

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

January 21, 2025

Why Is Genetically Modified Corn Causing a Dispute?

Mexico’s government is planning to ban imports of genetically modified corn, a move that could lead to USMCA-related complications. // File Photo: Mexican Government.

Q

A

Devry Boughner Vorwerk, member of the Advisor board and founder and CEO of DevryBV Sustainable Strategies: “Mexico’s concerns about GMO corn stem from longstanding issues related to white corn, which is native to the country and integral to the staple tortilla. The ban is only for white corn and applies to all exporters, not only the United States. Since NAFTA, U.S. corn exports to Mexico have skyrocketed from less than two million metric tons (MMT) in the early 1990s to hover today around 20 MMT annually, primarily yellow corn used for animal feed and processed products such as corn sweeteners. While the current debate focuses on banning the planting and imports of GMO white corn, the underlying issues include protecting native varieties, addressing perceived health risks of GMOs and resisting a U.S. regulatory system Mexico claims is heavily influenced by industry. Mexican farmers’ protests against white corn imports…”

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ABOUT THE LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Staff

Gene Kuleta
Editor
P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
Reporter

Nili Blanck
Reporter

board of advisors

Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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