‘3 Amigos’ talk deeper economic integration
The US bids for manufacturing edge over China
MEXICO CITY (AFP) — Leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada are expected to set aside simmering trade tensions and pursue deeper economic integration at talks on Tuesday that will also cover security and migration.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will host his US counterpart Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for three-way talks known as the “Three Amigos” summit.
While efforts to tackle migration and drug smuggling dominated a bilateral meeting between Obrador and Biden on Monday, the focus is expected to shift to the economy when Trudeau joins them.
Reinforcing regional economic ties “allows the United States to be the manufacturing powerhouse that President Biden has talked about but also is a win-win for Mexico and Canada,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters.
Furthermore, it “reduces our dependencies on other countries and other parts of the world who don’t necessarily share the same values that we share with our partners here in North America,” he added.
Mexico hopes to benefit from Washington’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Asia-based manufacturers.
Last year, the Latin American nation was invited by the US to join a multi-billion dollar push to boost semiconductor manufacturing to compete with China.
Biden revived the “Three Amigos” talks in 2021, seeking to restore normalcy to the three-way partnership after his predecessor Donald Trump shelved the regional summit.
But relations between Obrador and Biden have not been entirely smooth.
Mexico faces a formal trade complaint from the US and Canada under a North American trade deal.
Washington and Ottawa say Obrador’s push to boost the state’s role in the energy industry hurts foreign investors and hinders the development of clean energy.
While Biden and Trudeau may raise their concerns with Obrador in private about the energy reforms, in public they are likely to emphasize the potential for closer collaboration.