The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, insisted this Monday on defending the “benefits” of the Trade Agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC), while indicating that if necessary she would address the issue in a call with her American counterpart, Donald Trump.

“If it is necessary (to talk to Trump), yes, of course,” the president responded during her morning press conference, when asked about the possibility of a call or meeting with the president of the United States to discuss the future of the trade pact.

The Mexican leader pointed out that the main objective of her Government in the talks taking place this week in Washington is to preserve the regional agreement.

“Well, first the maintenance of the treaty, which I think the three countries agree on because it has benefited the three countries,” he said.

The head of state also explained that one of the priorities of the United States is to strengthen the rules of origin so that a greater part of manufacturing production, especially in the automotive sector, is carried out within North America.

"The United States is interested in having more rules of origin, what does that mean? That more products, that is, that the entire value chain related, for example, to a vehicle, be produced more in the region, that do not come from other regions," said the president.

However, he specified that Mexico defends a regional vision of the treaty.

“Obviously, we say that it should not only be the United States, but that it should be the region, that is precisely why it is a free trade agreement,” he stated.

Sheinbaum reported that the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, will lead the negotiations in Washington this week, accompanied by officials and advisors of the Mexican Government, and announced that the coming days will be decisive in knowing the direction of the talks.

The president also stressed that the USMCA is not being renegotiated, but rather is undergoing a review process provided for in the agreement itself, which was signed during Trump's first term and approved by the congresses of the three countries.

"The treaty is law. In other words, the treaty is already written, it is not that it is over now," he explained.

Likewise, Sheinbaum pointed out that Mexico seeks to reduce the tariffs imposed by the United States on steel, aluminum and vehicles under Section 232 of US legislation.

“So that is where we are working so that at least these tariffs decrease significantly and the trade agreement continues,” said the Mexican president.

The current USMCA came into force in July 2020 to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), after a renegotiation promoted during Trump's first term.

The agreement establishes a joint review six years after its entry into operation.

If the three countries agree to its continuity before July 1, it will be automatically extended for another sixteen years; Otherwise, it will begin a process of annual reviews that could drag on for a decade before eventually expiring. EFE

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