{"id":21021,"date":"2017-02-02T05:01:35","date_gmt":"2017-02-02T05:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=21021"},"modified":"2017-02-02T05:02:04","modified_gmt":"2017-02-02T05:02:04","slug":"mexico-takes-first-step-before-talks-with-u-s-on-nafta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/mexico-takes-first-step-before-talks-with-u-s-on-nafta.html","title":{"rendered":"Mexico Takes First Step Before Talks With U.S. on Nafta"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mexico Takes First Step Before Talks With U.S. on Nafta<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Mexican government said on Wednesday that it was beginning a 90-day consultation with the country\u2019s Senate and private sector before talks with the United States to review the North American Free Trade Agreement.<\/span><\/p>\n

President Trump has said he wants to renegotiate Nafta to obtain a better deal for the United States, calling the accord the \u201csingle worst trade deal ever approved in this country.\u201d He has threatened to pull the United States out of Nafta, which includes Mexico and Canada, if he cannot negotiate more favorable terms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tensions have been escalating between the United States and Mexico since Mr. Trump\u2019s election, and last week, President Enrique Pe\u00f1a Nieto of Mexico canceled a trip to Washington after Mr. Trump again insisted on Twitter that Mexico pay for a border wall. But Mexico has pressed to establish a dialogue with the new administration in Washington.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, the Mexican government denied an Associated Press report that quoted Mr. Trump, in an excerpt from a phone call last Friday, as warning Mr. Pe\u00f1a Nieto that he would send American troops to Mexico to stop \u201cbad hombres down there\u201d unless Mexico\u2019s security forces did something about them.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a statement, the government said that the report did not \u201ccorrespond to reality.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe negative expressions that are referred to did not occur during that call,\u201d the statement said. \u201cOn the contrary, the tone was constructive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Associated Press report could not be independently confirmed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the United States\u2019 Trade Promotion Authority laws, the White House must inform Congress at least 90 days before any new trade agreement is signed. While it was not immediately clear whether the Trump administration gave notice to Congress on Wednesday, the Mexican government plans to go through a similar process, according to a statement from Mexico\u2019s foreign and economy ministries. Negotiations are expected to begin in May.<\/span><\/p>\n

The possibility of any talks at all seemed remote last Thursday when Mr. Pe\u00f1a Nieto canceled his trip.<\/span><\/p>\n

He has said repeatedly that Mexico will not pay for the wall, which Mr. Trump made the centerpiece of his presidential campaign, despite a projected cost of billions of dollars and questions raised by his secretary of homeland security, John F. Kelly, over how effective it would be.<\/span><\/p>\n

The phone call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Pe\u00f1a Nieto was presented as having improved relations somewhat, though there was no agreement on the wall or on whether Mr. Pe\u00f1a Nieto\u2019s trip would be rescheduled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mexico\u2019s foreign minister, Luis Videgaray, said that talks with White House officials had continued after the call, leading to Wednesday\u2019s announcement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mexico has argued that any renegotiation of Nafta must be accompanied by talks over the range of issues that link the two countries, especially border security and immigration. \u201cThe message is that we want to have a good integral relationship in all areas,\u201d Mr. Videgaray said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nafta is almost a quarter of a century old, and in that time, it has turned Mexico into a manufacturing powerhouse that ships cars, appliances, electronics, medical equipment and produce north of the border.<\/span><\/p>\n

But investment by American companies in Mexico, as they shut down factories at home, has made Nafta the focus of searing arguments against free trade.<\/span><\/p>\n

Job losses in American manufacturing have different causes, and not all industries in the United States have suffered. Last month, some 130 agricultural organizations sent a letter to Mr. Trump stating that \u201cincreased market access under Nafta has been a windfall for U.S. farmers, ranchers and food processors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While the Mexican government is intent on preserving Nafta and the $1.4 billion in two-way trade that crosses the border every day, uncertainty over the agreement\u2019s fate has led to pressure on the Mexican peso and worries that companies will delay investment.<\/span><\/p>\n

In response, the Mexican government is working to seal agreements with other partners. It is updating its accord with the European Union and looking at bilateral deals with countries like Argentina, Australia and Brazil.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to reach an agreement,\u201d Mr. Videgaray said, referring to Nafta, \u201cbut we have to be prepared for all scenarios.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/02\/01\/world\/americas\/mexico-nafta-renegotiation-trump-wall.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fus&action=click&contentCollection=us&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront<\/span><\/div>\n

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