In Merida for historic summit, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross applauds President Lopez Obrador for his intention to boost the economic development of southeastern Mexico and Central America and emphasizes the importance of ratifying the T-MEC, a new trade agreement…//
The US Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, thanked the Mexican government for its help in facing the migration “crisis” on the border and stressed the “importance” of ratifying the T-MEC free trade agreement, the US Embassy in Mexico City reported Friday.
“We thank you for helping us as we face the crisis on our southern border,” Ross said during a dinner Thursday at the US-Mexico CEO Dialogue business summit in Mérida. Media representatives were excluded from the dinner and related activities of the business summit on Thursday. Access to Friday’s events is also being tightly controlled.
During his speech, the US official congratulated the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who assumed power on December 1, for “his strong emphasis on improving the economic development of this region.”
“The United States has developed an excellent working relationship with President López Obrador, and again, we thank the administration for its support in matters of mutual interest,” he said.
These words contrast with those of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who last week threatened to close the common border if Mexico did not stop the caravans of Central American migrants heading to the United States.
Later, he threatened an “economic penalty” to Mexico for the entry of drugs and to impose tariffs of 25% on Mexican automobiles if the neighboring country stops deporting undocumented people on its border with Guatemala.
And although there are no indications that the Mexican government has changed its immigration policy, Trump later held that the neighboring country was detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants on its southern border “for the first time in decades.”
During the dinner in Merida, Ross said he expects “with interest” to talk with Mexican authorities and companies about the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC), which is pending ratification in the three parliaments.
“The conclusion of these negotiations was an achievement for our three countries and involved the participation of many people in this place,” he said about the renegotiation of the former North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that was closed on November 30. .
Ross explained the trade agreement is now in “a phase of teaching lawmakers about the importance of T-MEC for the business communities of the three countries, and for the workers who will benefit from its approval.”
The US official said that the ties between Mexico and his country “are profound,” since they share “democratic values and cultural ties.”
“Millions of Americans trace their culture to Mexico,” he added.
According to Ross, Mexico is the second export market for the United States and its third commercial partner.
Meetings involving large companies from Mexico and the United States will continue Friday in the US-Mexico CEO Dialogue convention in Mérida, where they address the ratification process of the T-MEC free trade agreement.
The summit will be attended Friday by President López Obrador, who will participate in the closure, and members of the cabinets of Mexico and the United States.
Text: Excelsior
