The federal government is participating in dispute settlement consultations under the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The United States initiated the discussions after Mexico issued a Presidential Decree that, among other provisions, called for a ban on the use of genetically-modified corn in food and cast uncertainty on the future acceptance of other types of agricultural innovations.
Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau and Minister of International Trade Mary Ng released a joint statement Friday that said Canada expected its partners to uphold their commitments under CUSMA including sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
The Canada Grains Council (CGC) commended the government for taking a strong stand on science-based regulation and rules-based trade.
CGC Vice-President of Seed Innovation and Trade Policy Krista Thomas said farmers need plant science innovations to help them remain competitive.
“Without predictable regulatory systems, it is much harder to get innovation into the hands of farmers,” Thomas said. “Mexico’s decision to ban products with a proven record of safety has far-reaching consequences. Canadian farmers depend on these tools, which play a crucial role in sequestering over 11 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in their soil annually, promoting environmental sustainability.”
Thomas said the introduction of Mexico’s Decree has injected uncertainty into North American markets.
“If this measure is not withdrawn, it has the potential to trigger food price inflation and undermine food security within the intricate supply chains of North America,” she said.
Thomas said the grain sector is hopeful the upcoming consultations will lead to a quick resolution, without disruption to North American markets.
Canola Council of Canada (CCC) President Jim Everson said regulatory approaches not grounded in sound science risk stifling access to innovations that farmers need to remain competitive and profitable.
“To continue to serve the Mexican market and other key export markets it is essential that Canada’s trading partners support and implement science-based regulatory systems that enable getting innovations, including products of agricultural biotechnology, authorized and approved and into the hands of Canadian canola growers.”
Everson said CCC has been working closely with Canadian officials over the past several months and has provided ongoing input and advice to the federal government.
Mexico is a leading and valued market for Canadian canola and is Canada’s largest agri-food export to that country, valued at $1.6 billion in 2022.
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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW
