Divergent regulation of GE commodities on the world market leads to trade barriers and reduces trade flow. Rules regulating international trade of GE crops do not exist, even though there is a long history of actions taken by the World Trade Organization to establish paths forward to address trade barriers in the global marketplace for GE crops. Political realities in some countries, especially those with strong anti-GE agendas, are supplanting science as the primary basis for domestic policies and trade rules. Furthermore, the ever-increasing worldwide presence of GE crops in the global marketplace becomes more problematic in light of zero tolerance policies for adventitious presence of GE materials in shipments of non-GE crops. Harmonization of trade standards among different countries could resolve current policies that result in trade barriers; however, harmonization requires establishing mutually acceptable regulatory frameworks for trade in GE crops that exceed the scope of trade negotiations.