Notas Informativas

Imposition of an export tariff on white corn

James February 7, 2023

On January 16, 2023, it was published in the Federal Official Gazette, the Decree by which the Tariff of the Import and Export General Duty Act is Modified (the "Decree") regarding the export tariff applicable to white flour corn.

By virtue of said Decree, from January 17, 2023, through June 30, 2023, it is imposed an export tariff on white flour corn at a rate of 50% ad valorem. Among the considerations for this measure, the Decree mentions that white corn is an essential dietary product in Mexico, so it is necessary to guarantee a sufficient supply for the domestic market, thereby seeking to stabilize its price.

It is important to note that the imposition of an export tariff at a rate of 50% on white flour corn could entail a breach to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, as well as to other trade agreements to which Mexico is a party, provided that the measure is not duly justified, which several analysts consider that it is not justified1 which could lead to legal claims against Mexico. ¹, which could lead to legal actions against Mexico.

1 Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad. Los Aranceles a la Exportación de Maíz Blanco Arriesgan la Competitividad de México. Disponible en: https://imco.org.mx/los-aranceles-a-la-exportacion-de-maiz-blanco-arriesgan-la-competitividad-de-mexico/. Consultado el 30 de enero de 2023.

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