Washington, D.C. – American farmers have won a victory over Mexico’s unfair trade practices thanks to months of work by Ways and Means Republicans to get the Biden Administration to take action. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) released the following statement after a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute settlement panel challenging the Mexican government’s unscientific ban of American-grown corn ruled in favor of American farmers:
“When I met with President López Obrador last year, I made clear that Mexico must follow the rules and treat American farmers fairly – and now we have achieved a crucial victory for farmers who have suffered from Mexico’s failure to live up to its USMCA commitments in agriculture. For many months, Congress put pressure on the Biden Administration to use all available tools to ensure compliance. I will work closely with the Trump Administration to make sure Mexico pays a steep price if it does not promptly come into compliance with USMCA rules.
“While we are glad that Ambassador Tai made the right call challenging Mexico’s unscientific ban of American agricultural exports, we look forward to more speedy and decisive action under President Trump in his use of important enforcement mechanisms built into USMCA in order to defend Americans against foreign cheaters.”
Timeline: USMCA Enforcement of Mexico’s Ban on American-Grown Corn
Ways and Means Republicans successfully pressed the Biden Administration to enforce USMCA over Mexico’s ban of American-grown corn:
- February 15, 2023: Chairman Smith and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Smith write Ambassador Katherine Tai and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to urge the Biden Administration to ensure that Mexico abides by its obligations under the USMCA and allow American farmers to sell U.S. grown corn and other American-made agriculture products on the Mexican market.
- March 6, 2023: Ambassador Tai announces the first step toward invoking a USMCA dispute settlement mechanism to challenge Mexico’s ban on U.S. grown corn and other American-made agriculture products.
- March 13, 2023: A bipartisan congressional delegation, led by Chairman Smith, meets with Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador in Mexico City to underline that Mexico must follow USMCA rules and undo this ban.
- April 16, 2023: Chairman Smith presses Ambassador Tai during a hearing to take action.
- August 17, 2023: Ambassador Katherine Tai, announced a formal request to establish a USMCA dispute settlement panel to challenge the Mexican Government’s unscientific ban of American-grown corn.