Mexico economy minister eyes multiple rounds of NAFTA talks
MEXICO CITY: There could be between six to nine rounds of negotiations between the US, Canada and Mexico in the event a quick deal is reached on a revamp of the North American Trade Agreement ( NAFTA), Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said.
Guajardo told reporters in Mexico City the NAFTA members were looking at avoiding gaps of more than three weeks between negotiating rounds with a view to making quick progress.
“If we calculate the times toward the end of the year, we’re saying that this would give us a universe of rounds that could be between six and nine rounds,” Guajardo said.
Reuters reported the three
If we calculate the times toward the end of the year, we’re saying that this would give us a universe of rounds that could be between six and nine rounds. Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexican Economy Minister
countries had agreed an aggressive timetable to broker a deal on NAFTA in order to avoid politicising Mexico’s presidential election in July 2018, forecasting rounds held at three-week intervals.
The first round of talks on renegotiating NAFTA is due to begin in Washington on August 16.
Two Mexican officials said the neighbouring countries aimed to hold seven rounds of negotiations, and US officials told Reuters that Mexico wanted the talks wrapped up by year- end 2017.
Guajardo noted that it was in the interests of the negotiators to wrap up talks in good time lest a new government take office in Mexico and refuse to honour the terms.
US President Donald Trump has pushed for a renegotiation of NAFTA, threatening to dump it if he cannot rework the accord to the benefit of the US.
He argues it has fueled a trade deficit with Mexico and cost thousands of US jobs. — Reuters