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Two Hart Robotics teams competed on March 4 at the GEAR/Get Excited About Robotics 2023 Festival of Frenship Trial Run. Team 1, Zayden Diego and Rita Rodriguez earned 110 points to place third out of 35 teams, and Team 2, Emma Saldana and Letizia Dominguez, eared 75 points, finishing sixth place.
In reaction to Mexico’s decision to ban genetically modifi ed corn and other agricultural biotechnology products, United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai announced that the United States is taking enforcement action against Mexico for undermining the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) trade commitment and requesting technical consultations with Mexico.
The consultations are the first step toward a U.S. request for a dispute settlement panel under the USMCA that could lead to retaliatory U.S. tariffs if not resolved, further straining U.S.-Mexico relations, putting some $5 billion of U.S. corn exports at risk.
Mexico’s economy ministry said in a statement that it views the request as seeking a solution in a cooperative way and would use them to show its policies have caused no trade harm.
The U.S. has previously threatened to take the issue to a trade dispute panel with both Canada and Mexico over policies which ban FMO corn for human consumption. The U.S. and Mexico have also been in talks since July to discuss a separate dispute with Mexico concerning statedriven energy policies, which it says discriminate against U.S. companies.
USTR stated the U.S. exported $28 billion in agricultural goods to Mexico in 2022, with about $43 billion in ag imports from Mexico. Corn for food use makes up about 21% of Mexican corn imports from the U.S.
The USTR’s move won praise from several U.S. lawmakers who have been pushing for the Biden administration to take a harder stance and applauded Tai’s leadership and emphasized the importance of upholding equitable biotechnical standards.
“Over the past year, I have repeatedly sent letters urging the Biden Administration to hold Mexico and Canada accountable for their trade commitments through USMCA,” said Rep. Arrington.
The House Committee on Agriculture Republicans, in a statement said, “We are pleased to see Ambassador Tai take the necessary action to hold Mexico accountable for their attempt to ban U.S. biotech corn. The science (not political science) is on the side of America’s producers who deserve free and fair market access as outlined in the USMCA.”
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee ranking member John Boozman from Arkansas said, “Trade agreements are meaningless if our partners refuse to abide by them. Mexico’s attempts to ban U.S. biotech corn is a clear-cut example of a partner going back on its word. We have an obligation to ensure American producers are given the fair access to markets they were promised. Ambassador Katherine Tai and her team ought to be commended for standing up for American farmers and taking the necessary actions to hold Mexico to the agreement they signed.”
The USMCA entered into force on July 1, 2020, substituting the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).