MEXICO CITY (NEWSnet/AP) — The U.S. government said Thursday it is requesting a dispute settlement panel in its row with Mexico over limits on genetically modified corn.

Mexico's Economy Department said it had received the notification and would defend its position. It claims the measures had no effect on trade, and do not violate the United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, known as USMCA.

The U.S. Trade Representatives Office, or USTR, objected to Mexico’s ban on GM corn for human consumption and a proposal to ban it as animal feed.

USTR said Mexico’s measures are not based on science and undermine the market access it agreed to provide in USMCA.

The panel of experts will be selected and will have about six months to study the complaint and release findings. Trade sanctions could follow if Mexico is found to have violated the U.S.-Mexico Canada free trade agreement.

Mexico is the leading importer of U.S. yellow corn, most of which is genetically modified. In Mexico, almost all of the corn is fed to cattle, pigs and chickens, because Mexico doesn’t grow enough feed corn. Corn for human consumption in Mexico is almost entirely domestically-grown white corn, although corn-meal chips or other processed products could contain GM corn.

Mexico argues biotech corn may have health effects, even when used as fodder, but hasn’t presented proof.

U.S. farmers have worried about the potential loss of the single biggest export market for U.S. corn. Mexico has been importing GM feed corn from the U.S. for years, buying about $3 billion worth annually.

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