Mexico and Canada want to expand their economic cooperation in the face of customs surcharge imposed by US President Donald Trump, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday.
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Mexico, the United States and Canada are partners in the T-Mec free trade treaty, which Mr. Trump wishes to renegotiate because he considers him to be detrimental to American interests.
“We have the treaty, of course, but in addition we want investments of Canadian companies to continue (…), to extend direct trade between Canada and Mexico,” said Sheinbaum in the aftermath of a meeting with the Canadian Minister of Finance, François-Philippe Champagne, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand.
Ms. Sheinbaum said this meeting was a “preparatory meeting” before the visit to Mexico of the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, whose date is not yet defined.
Donald Trump justifies customs surcharges towards his two partners saying that they are not doing enough to contain irregular migration and fentanyl traffic in the United States.
The Republican President surcharged on August 1 from 25% to 35% Canadian products.
He postponed 90 days, until the end of October, the taxation of customs duties of 30% in Mexico which already undergoes the surcharge imposed against the automotive and steel sectors.