Latino

Mexico plans to leave negotiations if Trump cancels NAFTA: report

by Rafael Bernal - 08/30/17 6:33 PM ET

Mexico’s top diplomat said Wednesday that the country will leave negotiations if President Trump unilaterally rescinds the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Trump on Sunday threatened to cancel the deal because Mexico and Canada are “both being very difficult” in negotiations and repeated his claims in a speech on tax policy Wednesday.

According to a report from Mexico’s Reforma newspaper, Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Videgaray said Mexico would not continue negotiating if Trump came through with his threat.

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“We don’t believe it would be the correct route, or a viable route, to rescind the treaty just as we’re in a process of renegotiation,” Videgaray said, according to the report.

The second round of NAFTA renegotiations are set to begin Friday in Mexico City. The first round took place earlier this month in Washington.

Asked by reporters whether Mexico could negotiate if the agreement were unilaterally rescinded, Videgaray reportedly responded, “No.”

“Renegotiation is not a simple process, on the contrary, it’s a complex process,” he said.

“There are 26 simultaneous negotiating tables. There are issues where we’ll quickly find agreements, other issues that will require more work. But we’re profoundly committed to a renegotiation in accordance to the established process and of course, in a constructive manner,” he added.

Videgaray and Economy Secretary Ildefonso Guajardo were in Washington on Wednesday to discuss NAFTA with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner.

Mexico, Canada and the United States have opened negotiations on NAFTA, but the original treaty, in effect since 1994, remains active.

Tags Mexico Nafta Rex Tillerson Robert Lighthizer Wilbur Ross