MEXICO CITY – Deputy United States Trade Representative Jayme White met yesterday with Mexico’s Under Secretary of Economy for Foreign Trade Alejandro Encinas ahead of the second USMCA SME Dialogue.
Ambassador White and Under Secretary Encinas began the meeting by highlighting their shared commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship. During the meeting, Ambassador White reiterated concerns about the recent surge in U.S. imports of certain steel and aluminum products from Mexico and the lack of transparency regarding Mexico’s steel and aluminum imports from third countries, and encouraged Mexico to enhance its monitoring of Mexican steel and aluminum exports to the United States in accordance with the 2019 Joint Statement by the United States and Mexico on Section 232 Duties on Steel and Aluminum.
Ambassador White also underscored the pressing need for Mexico to address the serious concerns that the United States has raised during the ongoing consultations under the USMCA regarding Mexico’s energy measures. Ambassador White and Under Secretary Encinas also discussed the importance of making progress in the ongoing USMCA consultations regarding Mexico’s enforcement of its fisheries-related environmental laws.
During the meeting, Ambassador White and Under Secretary Encinas also discussed the regulatory environment for medical device manufacturing as well as importance of competition in the telecommunications sector and conducting procurements in accordance with USMCA obligations in an open and transparent manner.
Ambassador White and Under Secretary Encinas agreed to continue to collaborate on addressing these issues and other shared priorities.
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