Washington (United States) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday aimed at supporting the production of glyphosate in the United States, arguing that the herbicide, possibly carcinogenic according to the WHO, is essential for the country's food security.

First modification: 02/19/2026 - 18:37

The White House stated that glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used in American agriculture, but there is only one domestic producer, making importation necessary.

The executive order tasks the United States Secretary of Agriculture to adopt measures to facilitate US production of glyphosate and phosphorus, also used in the military industry.

Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency does not consider glyphosate to be carcinogenic, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), classifies it as "probably carcinogenic."

German chemicals giant Bayer announced Tuesday that its subsidiary Monsanto had proposed a class-action settlement of up to $7.25 billion to end lawsuits against its glyphosate-based weedkiller Roundup for causing cancer among consumers.

© 2026 AFP

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