Mexico's plan to phase out imports of genetically engineered corn by 2024 prompted Washington to voice "grave concerns" over the latest issue of contention between the major trading partners.
Last month the Mexican government softened its stance, saying exceptions could be granted for corn for animal feed and industrial food production while suitable substitutes are found.
That was not enough to stop Washington seeking consultations under a North American free trade agreement -- a possible precursor of stronger action.
"The United States has repeatedly conveyed our serious concerns with Mexico's biotechnology policies and the importance of adopting a science-based approach," said US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a statement on Monday.
She added that Mexico's policies "threaten to disrupt billions of dollars in agricultural trade" and risk stifling innovation needed to tackle the climate crisis and food security challenges if left unaddressed.
In 2022, the United States exported $28 billion in agricultural goods to Mexico, while Mexico exported $43 billion of such goods to America.
Following a request for technical consultations, the provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) allow for a meeting between parties within 30 days, a USTR official told reporters Monday.
"The focus for now is to try to make these technical consultations productive and find a resolution to our concerns," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added.
After this step, further enforcement actions are available.
Mexico plans to "demonstrate with data and evidence" that there was no commercial impact of the move to restrict imports of genetically modified maize, its economy ministry said.
The US request "was not of a contentious nature, but a preliminary stage in which a solution is sought in a cooperative manner," it added.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador previously said the country does not "accept transgenic corn for human consumption."
Corn has occupied a prominent place since pre-Hispanic times in Mexico, where it is consumed daily by many in tortillas.
The country is a major buyer of US corn, but US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday that "Mexico's current biotechnology trajectory is not grounded in science, which is the foundation of USMCA."
The neighbors are already embroiled in a trade spat over Lopez Obrador's energy policies, which have prompted formal complaints from both Washington and Ottawa.
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