Mexico on Tuesday reaffirmed its refusal to import genetically modified US corn for human consumption from 2024, risking a new trade dispute with the United States, AFP reported.

“We do not accept transgenic corn for human consumption,” leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the day after meeting with US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Between health and mercantilism, we choose health,” he said.

Most of the roughly 128 million Mexicans eat corn flour tortillas stuffed with meat, onions and hot taco sauce every day.

The US representative mentioned the potential conflict within the framework of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, the US and Mexico.

In the absence of an agreement, “the US government will be required to consider all options, including formal action, to ensure that our legal rights under the NFTM are respected,” he tweeted. He added that the Mexican government’s decision could “significantly increase costs” for consumers.

“We hope to reach an agreement. If there is no agreement, then there are panels (not: the agreement’s arbitration mechanism to resolve disputes). We are not alarmed,” said López Obrador.

The Mexican president emphasized that the ban does not apply to yellow corn intended for livestock.

About 80% of Mexican exports go to the US market. Agricultural trade between the two countries was a record $63 billion in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.