Government officials from Mexico offered the Biden administration a possible compromise on the impending decree to ban genetically modified (GM) corn imports.

One proposed change included a delay to the implementation of the ban until January 2025.

Another pledge made by the Mexican officials was a reconsideration to its rejections of petitions for GM corn traits, as well as to exempt imports of feed corn from any restrictions. Mexico would allow white GM corn to enter the country, but it may not be used by food companies to make food products.

A delegation of senior Mexican government officials met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai in Washington, D.C.

“There was candid conversation about our deep concerns around the restrictions of the importation of biotech corn and other biotechnology products stemming from President López Obrador’s 2020 decree. The Mexican delegation presented some potential amendments to the decree in an effort to address our concerns,” Vilsack and Tai said in a joint statement. “We agreed to review their proposal closely and follow up with questions or concerns in short order. There is a joint recognition that time is of the essence, and we must determine a path forward soon.”

U.S. officials have threatened to take action under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The ban is expected to lead to significant economic ramifications for both the U.S. and Mexican economies, resulting in billions of dollars in losses for U.S. farmers and higher food prices for consumers in Mexico.

Although Mexico is mostly self-sufficient in white corn, the country depends on the U.S. for the majority of its yellow corn supply. Shipments to Mexico make up nearly 30% of U.S. corn exports, and the country is the largest export market for U.S. corn.

Sources say the Mexican officials promised to return for a new meeting in January.