Global Courant
MEXICO CITY
Trade officials and economic representatives from Canada and the United States met with Mexican Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro on Thursday to celebrate the third year of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and to discuss pressing issues affecting trade relations.
Meeting in Cancun, Mexico, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Canadian Commerce Secretary Mary Ng met with their Mexican counterparts to hold the third meeting of the USMCA Free Trade Commission.
According to a press release from the Mexican Ministry of Economy, Tai and a delegation from the United States Office of Trade Representative (USTR) discussed Mexico’s nationalist energy policies, the new Mexico Mining Law, primary sector trade and California’s Upper Bay. Relevant advances in the conservation of endangered species and biodiversity.
The Mexican delegation, together with Canada, discussed the automotive industry, Mexico’s energy policies, and debates about mining law.
The meeting took place amid trade tensions between the three countries, mainly caused by problems arising due to the new energy policy implemented by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador last year.
Last year, both the U.S. and Canada called for a dispute panel under the USMCA on new energy policy that favors state-owned power companies rather than private power producers from the U.S. and Canada, which are allegedly violating the USMCA.
After the meeting, Tai said some progress had been made in the energy dispute, although concerns remained.
“If we don’t make further progress, the next step in the official toolkit will be a dispute resolution panel request,” he added.
Following the US, Canada also pushed for a conflict panel last year.
The US and Mexico were also involved in a dispute over Mexico’s decision to limit the use of genetically modified (GM) corn. According to the Mexican government, GMO corn, which the country imports mainly from the United States, poses health risks to the Mexican population.
In early June, US lawmakers urged Tai to take immediate action under the USMCA to address what they are calling Mexico’s discriminatory measures against GMO corn.
Canada soon followed the United States as it applied for consultations with Mexico under the USMCA on the same issue.
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