Ebrard Confirms Second Round of USMCA Talks for Monday the 20th: "We Will Continue to Progress"

This upcoming Monday, discussions between Mexico and the United States regarding the review of the North American Trade Agreement (USMCA) will resume in Mexico City. The Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, announced that U.S. Trade Representative, Jamison Greer, will arrive in Mexico this Sunday to commence this second round of negotiations, which is scheduled to extend throughout Monday.

Steel, Automobiles, and Agriculture: Key Discussion Points

The negotiations will address various strategic sectors of mutual interest. According to Secretary Ebrard, there will be specific sessions to review sector by sector, including steel and aluminum, the automotive industry, and the entire agricultural sector. The official elaborated that Mexico’s concerns and proposals regarding these topics will be discussed.

A fundamental point on the agenda will be the discussion of rules of origin and the coordination of trade policies between both nations. Furthermore, the strategy for import substitution will be addressed, aiming to strengthen national production and reduce dependence on other parts of the world.

Multimillion-Dollar Investments Frame the Negotiation Context

Within the framework of these trade discussions, Mexico announced a significant investment that exemplifies the type of collaboration sought to be strengthened. The company Flex will make an investment in the country focused on advanced manufacturing of equipment for data centers and artificial intelligence. This investment will generate high-skill jobs and position Mexico among the world’s leading producers of such equipment.

Secretary Ebrard explained that these types of investments are precisely an example of how imports from other parts of the world can be replaced by production now carried out in Mexico, thereby strengthening the regional integration envisioned in the trade agreement.

Broad Bilateral Agenda: From Foxconn to Canada

Monday’s negotiations are part of a broader trade agenda. The Secretary mentioned that an important visit will take place in Hermosillo, Sonora, between April 27th and 29th, where executives from Foxconn will directly evaluate operations in the state. This visit will be led by Governor Alfonso Durazo and has the support of the President, who personally met with these companies.

Additionally, from May 7th to 9th, a Mexican delegation of over 300 companies will travel to Canada on a reciprocal trade mission. This follows up on a visit by a Canadian delegation of approximately 400 companies to Mexico, led by Dominic Leblanc, Ebrard’s counterpart, which resulted in over 2,000 meetings between various companies.

Livestock Sector and Other Outstanding Issues

Although a specific session on the livestock issue is not scheduled for Monday, as it does not fall directly under the purview of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) office, Secretary Ebrard reported that this matter will be mentioned during the discussions. The official confirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture is making progress and holding talks, and that Mexico is fulfilling the requested commitments for the reopening of the border to Mexican livestock.

The livestock issue will be addressed in greater depth at a subsequent meeting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where Mexican exports of tomatoes, avocados, and raspberries, as well as the status of countervailing duties, will also be discussed.

Second Round Following Washington Meeting

These negotiations represent the second round of USMCA reviews, with the first having been held in Washington during March. The President of Mexico will formally receive Representative Greer and his team, while Secretary Ebrard and his team will hold technical discussions throughout the day. Representatives from various Mexican industrial sectors will also participate.

The U.S. representative will arrive Sunday evening and depart Tuesday morning, dedicating the entirety of Monday to the working sessions.

The Strategic Importance of USMCA

Secretary Ebrard previously highlighted that Mexico is the United States’ primary trading partner, with trade exchange having grown considerably in recent years. With Canada alone, 130 automotive parts plants with Canadian investment operate in Mexico, generating over 30,000 jobs for Mexicans, and trade between the two nations has grown to over $56 billion in the last year.

These figures underscore the importance of maintaining and strengthening the mechanisms of commercial cooperation established in the treaty, especially in a context where regional integration is presented as a key strategy to increase competitiveness against other regions of the world.

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This article originally appeared in Líder Empresarial.