Mexico City: United States officials said Monday that they and Mexico are far apart on the issue of Mexico's plans to restrict imports of GM corn for human consumption.

Mexico said it may eventually ban the use of GM corn in animal feed, but expressed hope that a joint agreement could be reached to investigate the matter.

According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, Mexico had made some changes, but "these changes are not substantial." according to the office.

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Mexico's proposed approach, which is not based on science, still threatens to disrupt billions of dollars in bilateral agricultural trade and seriously damage the economies of Mexican and American farmers."

Farmers in the United States are concerned about the prospect of losing the corn industry's largest export market. from many years ago.

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Mexico has been importing $3 billion of US GM feed corn each year. Mexico cites health issues, but a trade ban could go against the terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement.

With the agreement, Mexico hopes to avoid both a full-fledged trade complaint regarding the corn issue and a disagreement regarding its energy industry.

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Mexico unfairly favors its state-owned oil and power companies over American rivals and clean energy providers, according to the United States. Additionally, Canada has joined the complaint.