Competitiveness, inclusion, modernization and certainty will be the main lines that Mexico will draw up for the renegotiation of NAFTA, along with the United States and Canada, said the Economy Minister on Wednesday.
The first round to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), in force since 1994, will take place in Washington from August 16th to 20t , ending a long period of speculation and uncertainty, fueled by harsh criticism of the agreement by US President Donald Trump.
The so-called “Priorities of Mexico” , grouped in four thematic axes, seek to strengthen the country’s position in the global economy, extend the benefits of free trade in Mexican society and reposition North America as one of the most competitive regions, according to an Economics statement.
The first axis aims to strengthen competitiveness in North America, speeding up the access of goods, services and people, while the second point seeks to advance to an “inclusive and responsible” trade in labor, environment and gender.
The third axis focuses on using “the opportunities of the economy of the 21st century,” mainly in energy and information and communication technologies.
The fourth axis seeks to “promote the certainty of trade and investment” in North America, highlighting “the crucial role” of dispute settlement mechanisms among NAFTA partners, a sensitive issue in the face of negotiations.
Guajardo also presented those responsible for the Mexican team, made up of chief negotiator Kenneth Smith, the deputy head of negotiation, Salvador Behar, and the undersecretary of Foreign Trade, Juan Carlos Baker, who will be responsible for coordinating the process.
NAFTA is vital to the Mexican economy, allowing it to sell a wide range of products, mainly manufacturing and agricultural, to the United States and Canada, free of levy.
However, since his campaign, marked by an anti-Mexican speech, Trump warned that he would renegotiate or withdraw from the treaty.