The Mexican government has welcomed the agreement reached in the customs dispute with the US. The approval also comes from the economy. The Opposition is not quite so enthusiastic. It speaks of surrender and of injured Dignity.
Mexico’s President López Obrador was celebrated in Tijuana
It was intended as an event for the “defence of the Dignity of Mexico” to the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump, not to raise customs duties on all Mexican imports. But then a reaffirmation of the bonds of Friendship between the United States and Mexico was out of the rally on Saturday in Tijuana. President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador praised in his speech in front of Thousands of listeners, the historical relations between the two neighbouring countries. The relief over the agreement reached at the last Minute in the tariff dispute between the U.S. and Mexico was in every word of message to grasp.
“We can’t say that Mexico has won all the points, that would be a lie, but the Important thing is that we were able to avoid the fees,” said Mexico’s foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, the voice in Tijuana in front of López Obrador. He was also, after three days of intense negotiations, on Friday evening in Washington, the agreement reached, which hardly anyone wanted to believe.
Customs waiver for better border protection
Mexico agreed to strengthen its security controls on the border with Guatemala, in order to reduce irregular immigration. Among other things, from Monday to 6000 forces of the newly created Mexican national guard will be relocated to the southern border. The fight against gangs will be extended and there is less of a humanitarian Visa to be awarded.
The United States can, in turn, send the Central Americans on the whole length of the border back to Mexico, and from there to the processing of their asylum applications waiting. In return, the United States is supporting the Mexican development plan for Central America, which provides more funds for education, infrastructure and economic development in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
At the border to Guatemala, the security checks to be tightened
After a period of 90 days, the measures agreed to come to the test. Ebrard raised hevor, that the classification of Mexico could be prevented as a “safe third country”. In Mexico, it is feared, to be otherwise, virtually alone, for the Central American refugees is responsible.
The Situation on the US-Mexican border has tightened, the last dramatically. According to the us Department of homeland security, the highest number since 2007, were picked up in may to 144,000 people. Trump announced the end of the month special duties in the amount of five percent on all imports from Mexico as from 10. June, if the neighboring country fails to take as soon as possible tougher measures for border security. Until the beginning of October, this step could have on a 25 percent increase. To avoid the tariffs agreed with Mexico now a stronger militarization of the border region in the South of the country.
Praise from business associations
“Thanks to the support of all Mexicans, we were able to avoid duties on Mexican products, which are exported to the United States,” tweeted López Obrador as a reaction to the agreement. From the economy, there was applause. The Chairman of the entrepreneurs Association of CCE, Carlos Salazar Lomelín, congratulated the government on the success of the negotiations: “a Joint effort, wisdom, patience and strategy lead to results. We are satisfied with the agreement and with the possibility that the economy will continue to accompany the government in this process.”
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Mexico and the United States in the dispute over punitive tariffs
José Manuel López Campos, Chairman of the Association of national trade, services and tourism chambers, said the Agreement will allow the ratification of the new North American Freihandeksabkommens USMCA. “In an economic war no one would have won, all sectors would have lost and the economic impact would have been great,” he said. The United States is the main trading partner of Mexico. Four-fifths of the exports go to the United States. In the past year, there were Goods to the value of $ 350 billion.
“Mexico is not the backyard of the United States”
The foreign Minister, Ebrard and his Team have achieved their goal, although many would have considered the efforts already in place for lost time and effort, paid tribute to the daily newspaper “El Universal” in an editorial in the agreement, but warned at the same time: “There is a truce in a war that still will not given is lost.”
From the side of the Opposition, there were also critical voices. Ángel Ávila Romero, Secretary General of the Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD), said the agreement was a “surrender”. He accused the government to have too easily yielded to. Mexico should not europeanise its border militarized, “because Mexico is the backyard of the USA”. Marko Cortés, chief of the Partido de Acción Nacional (PAN), called the agreement “positive,” but criticized the “sovereignty and Dignity” of Mexico had been violated.
Trump has linked immigration and, as well, with the bilateral trade and this might not do again in the future, if the Situation from his point of view, improved. The former mayor of Mexico city, Miguel Angel Mancera, it’s a Problem, the pressure of the US President to give in. It is to be feared that he, “wants to when he wants today, 6000 forces, tomorrow, 10,000 or 15,000”.
Carlos Bravo Regidor, a Professor at the economic research Institute, CIDE in Mexico city, tweeted achieved: “Trump, Mexico tightened its immigration policy. He makes her his wall. Mexico it is possible that Trump imposed no duties in breach of the trade agreement, forced the renegotiation he has. There is a reason to Breathe a sigh of relief, but not celebration.”