Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the president of Mexico, stated on Thursday that his country was open to settling a trade dispute with the United States that centred on his administration’s energy policies. At a regular news conference, Lopez Obrador expressed his opinion that Mexico-U.S. dispute settlement negotiations should not have started in the first place.
He added that “It can be resolved because we have the willingness to do so, and I believe the government of the United States does too,” he said, stressing that foreign investment from Mexico’s top trade partner was robust. “We both need each other,”.
On July 20, the United States proposed settlement negotiations, claiming Lopez Obrador’s energy policies were unfair to American businesses and had caused the biggest trade dispute under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade pact. Later, Canada joined the American complaint.
In accordance with USMCA regulations, a dispute panel may be called to examine claims if the complaint is not resolved within 75 days. On Wednesday, Mexico’s foreign minister expressed his hope that his country could resolve the conflict before it was addressed by the panel.
