Mexico and US Delay Fourth Round of Trade Negotiations to October

The fourth round of trade negotiations between Mexico and the United States has been postponed and may be rescheduled for October, as reported by Reuters. Luis Rosendo Gutierrez, Mexico’s deputy economy minister for foreign trade, cited scheduling conflicts such as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to the US and the approaching G20 summit as reasons for the delay.

Despite the postponement of formal negotiations, Gutierrez noted that technical coordination with the US Trade Representatives Office continues on a daily basis. The negotiations aim to establish a bilateral agreement that could relieve Mexico from certain US tariffs while also addressing US concerns regarding automotive content and Chinese investment.

At a conference in Mexico City organized by the American Society of Mexico, Gutierrez emphasized that a primary focus is reducing Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. He also mentioned that the negotiation agenda has expanded from 54 issues to nearly 90, reflecting the natural evolution of complex topics such as regulations concerning digital platforms.