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Mexico and Canada reaffirmed Wednesday their willingness to reach a trilateral free trade agreement with the United States, despite threats by US President Donald Trump to opt for bilateral agreements.
" Canada believes strongly in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as a trilateral agreement, "said Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland during an official visit to Mexico City.
Freeland and his Mexican counterpart Luis Videgaray, as well as the Mexican Minister of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo, were optimistic that talks could be concluded shortly, almost a year after the start of negotiations.
"We have made significant progress and Canada believes that a modernization of the Alena + win-win-win + is very much within our reach, we are working hard for it," continued Ms. Freeland, who leads negotiations for his country.
million. Guajardo, head of the team of Mexican negotiators, said that "almost two-thirds" of the agreement were already defined.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto stressed the importance of reaching a "renegotiation constructive and integral "in the short term."
In a letter to Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, revealed on Tuesday, Donald Trump urges Mexico to bring about "swift" negotiations, threatening failing to borrow " a very different route. "
" It would not be my preference, but it would be far more profitable for the United States and its taxpayers, "wrote the American president.
Washington talks
Negotiations between the three countries, which began in August 2017, stumble on the United States' requirement to renegotiate the agreement every five years and to increase the share of US auto parts in vehicles. badembling them at their neighbors to exempt them from customs duties.
"This could mean significant changes for the auto industry," said Freeland. "And then you have to say to these builders: + Guess what, in addition to integrating these changes, you may have to face a whole series of new changes every five years," she said. [19659002] MM. Guajardo and Videgaray will travel to Washington on Thursday to resume talks with US officials. Members of the team of Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will also be present as observers.
According to the Mexican Government, an agreement on the Alena could be reached by the end of the mandate of Mr. Peña Nieto, which ends on November 30.
The Alena, in force since 1994, is regularly targeted by Mr. Trump who called it a "disaster" for American jobs.
However, it is vital for the Mexican economy, which exports nearly 80% of its products to its northern neighbor.
"Concordance of Views"
After meeting with Mr. Peña Nieto, Ms. Freeland met with President-elect Lopez Obrador for two hours behind closed doors in the modest house that serves as his office in the Mexican capital
Marcelo Ebrard, whom the president-elect has named as his future minister Foreign Affairs, indicated that the meeting had been "positive" and had resulted in a "concordance of views".
For the future Mexican president – who will take office on 1 December – the Alena must also remain trilateral. "It must and can be modernized but we do not think that its nature should change," explained Mr. Ebrard.
M. Lopez Obrador called for Canadian companies operating in Mexico, particularly mining companies, to adhere to the country's environmental standards, as well as existing labor legislation.
He also urged Canada to invest in the rail sector. "AMLO" (acronym for the president-elect) would like to boost tourism by building a high-speed train line linking the resorts of the Caribbean coast, including Cancun, to archaeological sites to Palenque in Chiapas (southeast).
On July 14, Mr. Lopez Obrador received US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a large delegation for a first meeting called "cordial".
26/07/2018 01:15:37 –
Mexico City, July 25, 2018 (AFP) –
© 2018 AFP
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