Cancún – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai met today with Mexico’s Secretary of Economy, Raquel Buenrostro, ahead of the third meeting of the United States – Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA) Free Trade Commission (FTC).
During the meeting, Ambassador Tai and Secretary Buenrostro agreed to continue working together to strengthen the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship and underscored the importance of fully implementing the USMCA. They highlighted advancing work under the USMCA Competitiveness Committee to maintain North American trade flows during emergency situations as well as cooperation on labor issues, including collaboration on prohibiting imports produced with forced labor from entering North America and Mexico’s continued implementation of its labor reform.
Ambassador Tai stressed the importance of Mexico fully meeting its USMCA commitments, including those related to certain of Mexico’s energy measures, enforcement of its fisheries-related environmental laws, and biotechnology measures. In addition, Ambassador Tai raised concerns about regulatory uncertainty facing U.S. electronic payment services providers in Mexico and Mexico’s spectrum fee methodology.
Ambassador Tai and Secretary Buenrostro also discussed the importance of addressing the recent surge of imports of steel and aluminum products, and agreed to have their teams intensify their engagement. Ambassador Tai stressed the importance of Mexico enhancing its monitoring of its steel and aluminum exports to the United States in accordance with the 2019 Joint Statement by the United States and Mexico on Section 232 Duties on Steel and Aluminum, and ensuring greater transparency with regards to Mexico’s steel and aluminum imports from third countries.
Ambassador Tai and Secretary Buenrostro agreed to stay in regular communication and directed their respective teams to continue working on these issues.
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