
Juan Carlos Baker, Mexico’s deputy commerce minister said that Mexico won’t sign the new North American free trade agreement (USMCA) unless the U.S. removes steel and aluminium tariffs on Mexico and Canada.
Lawyers are finalizing the text of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the three countries are expected to sign the document on Nov. 29 or Nov. 30. However, Mexico insists on removing the tariffs before the signing of the agreement. Echoing what the Canadian counterpart had said, Baker said Mexico won’t agree to any quota system on imports as proposed by the U.S.
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He made the statements during a meeting hosted by Canada in Ottawa on reforming the World Trade Organization. The trilateral trade agreement was struck before a deadline imposed by the U.S. Congress.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed how the USMCA “removes uncertainty and supports stronger investment and exports” and the impact of U.S. tariffs imposed by Trump on national security grounds.
Canada and Mexico also levied their own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. Baker also said that Canada’s 25 per cent surtax on some foreign steel products to avoid dumping also affected Mexican trades.
Kelly Craft, the U.S. ambassador to Canada said that Trump is reviewing the tariffs on Canada and Mexico. David MacNaughton, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. also expected that the U.S. tariffs will be lifted shortly before signing the new agreement.
Baker also indicated that the G20 leaders’ summit to take in Buenos Aires from Nov. 30, could serve as the venue for signing the USMCA. Baker also expressed concern over a section of the USMCA that allows any of the countries to withdraw from the deal on six-month’s notice if one of the partners starts free trade negotiations with a non-market economy—which could be indicating to China.
He said this clause cannot be a hurdle in their negotiations with China.
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