The still-unresolved dispute with Mexico over its limits on GM corn made for a tense exchange between a Nebraska GOP lawmaker and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai at a Ways and Means hearing.
Adrian Smith (R-NE) didn鈥檛 mince words with Biden trade chief Tai after she confirmed Biden was briefed on the USMCA dispute case against Mexico鈥檚 phase-out of U.S. yellow feed corn and ban on GM white corn for human use. Smith said, 鈥淢y research shows that the president has had exactly nothing to say. That鈥檚 disappointing. It would lead most reasonable people to believe that it鈥檚 not a priority, it doesn鈥檛 matter.鈥
Smith accused the White House of giving Mexico a 鈥減ass鈥 on corn. He said, 鈥淭he filing for the dispute resolution was roughly two years after the decree, the flagrant violation of USMCA was made, and I鈥檓 concerned that our president has had exactly nothing to say. Is there a downside to our president speaking up and saying that what Mexico is doing to our corn is wrong?鈥
Tai鈥檚 said in response, 鈥淢r. Smith, I am the U.S. Trade Representative in President Biden鈥檚 cabinet, and I鈥檓 here to talk about the president鈥檚 trade policy agenda, today. And I鈥檓 telling you that we are actively pursuing litigation with Mexico using the tools of the USMCA precisely to address what we consider to be an illegitimate and unscientifically based restriction on our trade in biotech corn to Mexico.鈥
But Smith told Tai her response meant Biden chose to stay silent, and he didn鈥檛 accept that as 鈥渂eing concerned鈥 about Mexico鈥檚 restrictions on U.S. GM corn.
Story courtesy of NAFB News Service and Matt Kaye/Berns Bureau Washington
