Mexico Conforms to WTO Ruling

February 28, 2000

Mexico’s government has decided not to appeal a ruling by the World Trade Organization that Mexico violated an antidumping agreement by imposing duties on imports of high fructose corn syrup from the United States. The Corn Refiners Association views the decision as an acknowledgment by Mexico that it did violate the agreement.

Chuck Conner, president of the CRA, said Mexico now should bring itself into conformity with the WTO panel’s ruling by terminating immediately the antidumping order on HFCS imports from the United States.

However, Alberto Santos, chairman of the Mexican National Chamber of Sugar and Alcohol Industries, claimed the U.S. industry was dumping product into the Mexican market illegally. "In our view, Mexico has always respected its international commitments and, of course, we fully expect that Mexico will continue this proud tradition in this case. We believe it is in the best interests of all parties to respect the decision of the WTO, to undertake the relevant reviews and to take the appropriate actions in due course."

Santos claimed dumping of HFCS on the Mexican market has occurred, "and the Mexican sugar industry was subjected to injury as a result of this dumping. The only question, therefore, will be the extent of that injury. In the meantime, the current duties will remain in place pending the outcome of this process."