TORONTO – Senior Advisor Cara Morrow today met with Mexico’s Under Secretary of Economy for Foreign Trade Alejandro Encinas ahead of the USMCA Mid-Year Check-In meeting. Senior Advisor Morrow and Under Secretary Encinas began the meeting by emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship and the continued implementation of the USMCA.
During the meeting, Senior Advisor Morrow underscored the urgent need to address the recent surge of Mexican 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 regard to Mexico’s steel and aluminum imports from third countries.
Senior Advisor Morrow and Under Secretary Encinas also discussed the importance of close collaboration between the United States and Mexico on the USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism and on implementing the USMCA prohibition on imports produced with forced labor, and committed to implementing USMCA FTC Decision Number 5 to enhance coordination and consultation during emergency situations. In addition, Senior Advisor Morrow also emphasized the urgency of making meaningful progress in the ongoing consultations under the USMCA regarding Mexico’s energy measures and Mexico’s enforcement of its fisheries-related environmental laws. Senior Advisor Morrow also noted increasing concerns about restrictions facing U.S. electronic payment services providers in Mexico and the protracted negative impact of Mexico’s spectrum fee methodology on competition in the telecommunications sector.
Senior Advisor Morrow and Under Secretary Encinas agreed to stay in regular communication on these and other issues.
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