Mexican president vows talks, 'new agenda' with Trump

Image
AFP Lima
Last Updated : Nov 20 2016 | 12:07 AM IST
Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto today said that his government will seek a dialogue with US President-elect Donald Trump, who infuriated Mexicans with vitriolic attacks on their country and its people during his campaign.
"In the face of the positions that President-elect Trump has taken, we are prioritising dialogue as a path to build a new agenda for our bilateral relations," Pena Nieto said at a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.
"For Mexico, our relation with the United States is central, given the level of trade and integration we have now," he added during a roundtable on trade in Lima, Peru.
"Mexico, like the rest of the world, is about to begin a new era in our relations with the United States, and in trade terms we want to give that relationship its fair value."
He pushed back against Trump's calls to tear up or renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Mexico, the United States and Canada, saying his country "will continue to be a fervent believer in openness."
But he said he is prepared to revisit aspects of the 22-year-old deal, including on environmental and labour issues.
Trump sharply criticised NAFTA and other trade deals on the campaign trail, saying they sent American jobs to countries with cheaper labour.
The brash billionaire also insulted Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists, vowed to force Mexico to pay billions of dollars to build a wall along the border, and threatened to restrict the remittances that immigrants in the United States send home.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 20 2016 | 12:07 AM IST

Next Story