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TradeBiden has left some of Trump's tariffs in place, illustrating the protectionist bent that continues to take hold in Washington. Biden has left some of Trump's tariffs in place, illustrating the protectionist bent that continues to take hold in Washington. As president, Trump fixated on the US trade deficit even as some economists argued against reading too much into such figures. He didn't see the fruits of his biggest trade deal, which went into effect in July 2020: the USMCA, a revamped North American trade deal known Experts at Brookings Institution have praised the treaty for growing regional trade. Trump has pledged to kill the Biden administration's new Asian trade talks, which the former president has dubbed "TPP two."

Persons: Biden, Niels Wenstedt, Trump, Katherine Tai, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Barack Obama Organizations: BSR Agency, Getty, Republican Party, American Free Trade, World Trade Organization, Big Tech, Trump, Bloomberg News, Brookings Institution, TransPacific, US, Biden, Politico Locations: Washington, China, American, Mexico, Beijing

☆ US and China are buying into Mexico’s manufacturing moment
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( John Towfighi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —As US supply chains decouple from China, Mexico’s manufacturing sector is emerging as a winner. Ramos said Mexico and China have been competing for the US manufacturing market for years, but amid a shifting US-China relationship, Mexico looks poised to pull ahead. Those exports were driven by manufacturing, which comprises 40% of Mexico’s economy, according to Morgan Stanley. Meanwhile, Chinese exports to the US were down 20% in 2023, compared to 2022. Analysts at Morgan Stanley see the value of Mexico’s exports to the United States growing from $455 billion to about $609 billion in the next five years.

Persons: That’s, nearshoring, Alberto Ramos, Goldman Sachs, Ramos, Morgan Stanley, Katherine Tai, CNN’s Julia Chatterley, Tai, United States Jose Luis Gonzalez, Xeneta, Peter Sand, Jose Enrique Sevilla, John Raines, Goldman’s Ramos, Biden, Raquel Buenrostro, —, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Global’s, Raines, Christoffer Enemaerke, “, Tesla, Elon Musk, Julio Cesar Aguilar, BYD doesn’t, RBC’s Enemaerke, Michael Nam Organizations: CNN, Manufacturing, Commerce Department, US Trade, General Motors, Ford, Reuters, Shipping, Container Trade, Xeneta, Moody’s Analytics, P Global Market Intelligence, steelworkers, “, Global’s Sevilla, Macip, RBC, Getty, BYD, ” Sevilla, Monterrey Locations: China, Mexico, Canada, North America, US, Ciudad Juarez, United States, Pittsburgh, Mexican, Monterrey, ”, Nuevo Leon, Asia

☆ Why a small China-made EV has global auto execs and politicians on edge
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

The rise of BYD and other Chinese automakers led Tesla CEO Elon Musk in January to warn that Chinese automakers will "demolish" global rivals without trade barriers. Caresoft, an engineering benchmarking and consulting firm, has already torn down one China-built BYD Seagull and is preparing to do another. Michael Wayland / CNBCThe consulting firm tore apart the BYD Seagull piece by piece to benchmark the small EV against vehicles from other startups and traditional automakers. Its initial study of the BYD Seagull found it to be efficiently and simplistically designed, engineered and executed, but with unexpected quality and anticipated reliability. Growing concernsBYD's rise comes at a precarious time for global auto industry dynamics.

Persons: It's, Terry Woychowski, Warren Buffett, —, BYD, Tesla, Elon Musk, Caresoft Bernstein, Nissan, Michael Wayland, Caresoft, simplistically, Woychowski, Mathew Vachaparampil, CNBC BYD, Stellantis —, Donald Trump, Zach Gibson, Jennifer Granholm, Republican Sen, Marco Rubio, Trump, –, GM Dong, Tang, Marin Gjaja, Gjaja, Ford, you've, Evelyn Cheng, Dylan Butts Organizations: Shanghai International Automobile Industry, National Exhibition, Convention Center, Visual China, Getty, U.S, General Motors, Caresoft, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Overseas, Chevrolet, Nissan Leaf, Bolt, Chicago Federal Reserve, BYD, CNBC, Cox Automotive, Seagull, Tesla, Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, Honda Motor, Hyundai, Kia, — GM, Ford, Chrysler, U.S ., Washington , D.C, Bloomberg, Republican, North American Free Trade, Republicans, Buick, SAIC, GM, GM Dong Yue Motors Co, Detroit Locations: Shanghai, LIVONIA, Mich, –, China, Europe, Latin America, Detroit, Texas, Germany, Japan, U.S, Livonia , Michigan, America, XPENG, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Hungary, Uzbekistan, ., Washington ,, United States, Marco Rubio of Florida, Yantai, Shandong Province

STR | AFP | Getty ImagesIn the race against Tesla for the global electric car market, Chinese automaker BYD is pushing hard overseas despite rising barriers to the U.S. market. Given policy uncertainty around Chinese EV exports to major markets like the U.S. and Europe, BYD is seeking to bolster overseas sales by moving production to regions perceived as more friendly. The U.S. has tried to support adoption of electric cars domestically, but sales penetration is well below that of China. EY predicts the electric car market in the region will grow exponentially to at least $80 billion a year in sales in the next decade. The rapid growth of BYD and other Chinese electric car companies has other automakers worried.

Persons: Tesla, BYD, Xiao Feng, Biden, it's, EY, Alvin Liu, Liu, BYD's, Sime Darby, Stella Li, Reuters BYD, Bill Russo, CNBC's, Li Organizations: AFP, Getty, Toyota, Counterpoint Research, Tesla, Sime, Americas, Reuters, Alliance for American Manufacturing, U.S Locations: Taicang Port, Suzhou, China's, Jiangsu, U.S, Shenzhen, Europe, Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Hungary, Uzbekistan, China, Marklines, Southeast Asia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Mexico, Americas, North America, United States, Canada, Washington

☆ Trump 2.0 would threaten Mexico's new status as America's top trade partner
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A second Trump presidential term poses a risk to Mexico's status as the US's top trade partner. According to Capital Economics, Trump 2.0 threatens Mexico's newly gained status. In a Tuesday note, Capital Economics strategists said much of the impact would hinge on whether the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) deal remains intact. To Capital Economics, Mexico is one of the most vulnerable emerging markets as far as repercussions to this potential move. Mexico's trade with the US accounts for about one-third of its GDP.

Persons: Trump, —, Donald Trump, USMCA Organizations: Trump, Capital Economics, Service, Capital, North America Free Trade, US Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Locations: Mexico, China, Canada, US, shoring

☆ The global trade system has already started planning for potential Trump win, new China tariffs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The Trump administration used delegated authorities under three trade laws to unilaterally levy tariffs without Congressional approval. The Trump administration tariffs kickstarted a shift in supply chain strategy which, according to Frank, became more well-developed by customers during Covid, when they contemplated moving factories and production out of China. He expects any increase in tariffs during a second Trump presidency to lead to a greater shift in trade from China to Mexico to avoid the tariffs. "If you charge tariffs to China, they're going to build ... their car plants here and they're going to employ our people," Trump said. S&P Global research shows that China's share of the imports of products covered by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration has dropped.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Niki Frank, Frank, Beth Whited, they'd, Paul Brashier, Chris Rogers, Biden, Rogers, Jon Gold, John Taylor IV, Taylor, Peter Boockvar, Critics, it's, that's Organizations: United, Canada Trade, White, CNBC, Global, Trump, China, Biden, OF DHL, Union, Canadian Pacific, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Union Pacific, ITS Logistics, P Global, Vietnam, National Retail Federation, Berlin Packaging, Trade, Bleakley Financial, ASEAN Locations: United States, Mexico, Canada, Washington , DC, U.S, OF DHL Asia, Long Beach , California, China, Union Pacific, Canadian Pacific Kansas, East, West, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea, CNBC Mexico, Europe, Thailand, Indonesia

☆ BYD: Why Hungary and Mexico could be key to the Chinese carmaker’s global domination
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The cars come from BYD, the Chinese carmaker that is backed by Warren Buffett and has surpassed Tesla as the world’s biggest seller of electric vehicles (EVs). 1," a shipping carrier vessel intended to export BYD vehicles, at Yantai port in eastern China's Shandong province in January. BYD Mexico did not respond to a request for comment. “The US government is not going to like that Mexico is creating a back door.”A BYD electric vehicle, operated by Vemo taxi, in Mexico City in November. But as it continues to grow overseas, BYD will have to take a more localized approach, analysts say.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Tesla, BYD, Viktor Orbán’s, Yucatán, what’s, Elon Musk, Tu Le, carmaker, Hungary —, Matthias Schmidt, ”, “, Schmidt, Bill Russo, it’s, Le, Mariceu Ethrall, It’s, “ It’s, ‘ We’re, ’ ”, Stella Li, México, ” Li, Wang Chuanfu, BYD “, Russo, they’ve, ” Russo Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Xinhua, Getty, CNN, Tesla, BMW, Audi, European Union, Schmidt Automotive Research, EV, European Commission, Bloomberg, BYD, El Locations: Hong Kong, China, Europe, BYD, Shenzhen, Germany, Netherlands, Hungary, Mexico, North America, China's Shandong, Szeged, Komárom, France, Shanghai, Hungarian, United States, Canada, Mexico City, Mexican, Dutch, Rotterdam, California, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, what’s

☆ Mexican businesses warmed by glow of 'nearshoring' dawn
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Noe Torres | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MEXICO CITY, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Mexican businesses, particularly those linked to real estate and construction, are counting on investment from so-called "nearshoring" to boost profits and economic growth, especially in industrial zones near the U.S. border. "Many companies are already talking about this - about nearshoring and the economic benefits," said Gerardo Copca, an analyst at consultancy MetAnalisis. One notable project - electric vehicle maker Tesla's plans for a reported $5 billion factory in northern Mexico - has been credited with attracting $1 billion in Chinese investments to nearby industries. Mexican real estate investment trust Fibra Uno (FUNO11.MX) plans to launch a trust allowing investors to cash in on expected growth of industrial assets. Total Mexican construction output jumped almost by 46% in August year-on-year, with northern states performing strongly.

Persons: Gerardo Copca, Nearshoring, Fibra Uno, Andre El, Mann, AMPIP, Lorenzo Berho, El, Berho, Enrique Navarro, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's, Noe Torres, Dave Graham, David Alire Garcia, Christian Plumb, Josie Kao Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Fibra, Banco Regional, U.S, UBS, Cement, GCC, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Mexico, Asia, Mexican, Queretaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, United States, Canada, China, Swiss, Chihuahua, Texas

☆ US Labor Dept 'disappointed' by VU Manufacturing plant closure in Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Members of the Liga Obrera Sindical Mexicana (Mexican Workers Union League) talk outside the VU Manufacturing auto parts plant in Piedras Negras, Mexico, August 31, 2022. In March, the U.S. and Mexico pledged to oversee VU Manufacturing carry out a series of commitments to remain neutral in union affairs and allow workers to freely organize. VU Manufacturing, an unlisted company based in Michigan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Department of Labor urged Mexico to prevent retaliation against former VU workers as they seek new jobs, and to ensure VU makes timely payments to dismissed workers. Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City Editing by Kylie Madry and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Becerril, Thea Lee, Lee, Daina Beth Solomon, Kylie Madry, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Liga, Mexicana, Mexican Workers Union League, VU, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, U.S . Department of Labor, VU Manufacturing, Department, Labor, Thomson Locations: Piedras Negras, Mexico, MEXICO, Mexican, States, Canada, U.S, Michigan

☆ House GOP boots Pelosi, Hoyer from House hideaways after Speaker Kevin McCarthy ouster
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) walk from the House floor where members debate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the speaker's office in the U.S. Capitol on December 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON — Republican leaders abruptly evicted two high-profile Democrats from their longtime Capitol hideaway offices without explanation after the House removed Kevin McCarthy as its speaker. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and ex-Majority Leader Steny Hoyer were both told that their small but coveted second offices within the Capitol will be "re-assigned," NBC News confirmed. Spokespeople for McCarthy and the new temporary speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., did not immediately respond when asked what spurred the evictions. "Sadly, because I am in California to mourn the loss of and pay tribute to my dear friend Dianne Feinstein, I am unable to retrieve my belongings at this time."

Persons: Steny Hoyer, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Spokespeople, McCarthy, Patrick McHenry, Pelosi, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Pro Tempore Organizations: U.S, Capitol, WASHINGTON — Republican, NBC News, Pro Locations: United States, Mexico, Canada, Washington , DC, R, California, San Francisco

☆ US asks Mexico for fresh workers' rights review at auto parts facility
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai chairs the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework meeting in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. May 27, 2023. The latest review marks the U.S. Trade Representative office's 14th labor rights complaint against facilities in Mexico since the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on trade took effect in 2020, including nine this year. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the request was intended to "address a serious violation of workers' rights" at the automotive parts factory, involving an employer possibly terminating workers for engaging in union activity. The Mexican government has ten days to review the U.S. request, and if it accepts, another 45 days to investigate the case. Mexico has recently denied two requests for probes into labor rights concerns, rejecting a U.S. call to review Grupo Yazaki's auto components factory in the state of Guanajuato and also a Grupo Mexico mine labor probe.

Persons: Katherine Tai, Rebecca Cook, Tai, Teklas, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford, Sonali Paul Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Automotive, U.S . Trade, office's, . Trade, Washington, Grupo, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S, MEXICO, Mexico, Mexican, Aguascalientes, Canada, States, Turkey, Europe, North America, China, Guanajuato, Grupo Mexico

☆ Mexico researchers show progress on drive to replace U.S. corn imports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Adriana Barrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The fields, planted in May, were generating new strands of hybrid seed varieties to be tested in 2024 with release for planting in 2025, they said. Mexico's government wants to ban GM corn for human consumption, including its national staple, tortilla, on concerns about its health impact. It still permits, for now, GM corn as livestock feed and in industrial use in some processed foods and cosmetics. SELF-SUFFICIENCYPresident Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been vocal about the need to reduce Mexico's dependence on U.S. corn imports. Still, Mexican Deputy Agriculture Minister Victor Suarez has said replacing 10% to 15% of corn imports is realistic.

Persons: Kellogg, Claudio Carballo, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Victor Suarez, Romel Olivares, Lopez Obrador, Olivares, Adriana Barrera, Cassandra Garrison, Dave Graham, Leslie Adler Organizations: Autonomous University of Chapingo, U.S, Agriculture, Thomson Locations: TEXCOCO, Mexico, United States, Mexico City, Chapingo, U.S, Canada, Mexican

☆ Mexico must address US' 'serious concerns' over energy measures, USTR says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. trade official stressed Mexico's need to address "serious concerns" from the United States of its energy measures, which were raised during consultations under a regional trade pact, the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) office said on Thursday. Deputy Trade Representative Jayme White, who met with his Mexican counterpart Alejandro Encinas in Mexico on Wednesday, urged Mexico to address its energy measures which the U.S. says unfairly discriminate against its companies, the USTR said in a statement. The U.S. and Canada demanded dispute settlement talks with Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement over Mexico's energy policy in July 2022. White also expressed concerns over the "recent surge" in U.S. imports of certain steel and aluminum products from Mexico, the USTR said, and the "lack of transparency" regarding their country of origin. White and Encinas additionally discussed ongoing USMCA consultations regarding Mexico's enforcement of fisheries-related environmental laws, the USTR said.

Persons: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Jayme White, Alejandro Encinas, White, Encinas, Kylie Madry, Valentine Hilaire, Richard Chang Organizations: Ciudad Juarez, REUTERS, U.S . Trade, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Paso del Norte, El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, MEXICO, U.S, United States, Canada

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's steps to roll back reforms aimed at opening Mexico's power and oil markets to foreign competitors ultimately sparked the trade dispute. The steps add to a significant worsening of trade relations between Washington and Mexico City, even as their economic integration grows. Like the energy policies, Washington argues that banning GMO corn for human and animal consumption violates Mexico's obligations under the trade pact. The White House has hoped to avoid escalating energy trade tensions with Mexico as it sought help on immigration and drug trafficking, but talks that began last year have made little progress. In 2022, Mexico had a $130.5 billion goods trade surplus with the United States.

Persons: Katherine Tai, Tatiana Clouthier, Trade Mary Ng, Joe Biden's, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's, USTR, Obrador, Biden, Donald Trump, Jarrett Renshaw, David Lawder, Stephen Eisenhammer, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Trade, Small Business, Export, Washington, United States Trade Representative, United, Chevron, Marathon Petroleum, Comision Federal, Mexico, Ministry, U.S, North American Free Trade, Thomson Locations: Mexican, United States, Mexico, Canada, Mexico City, U.S, United States Mexico Canada, USMCA, Washington, China, Washington's

☆ September to remember or to forget? Here are things working for and against the stock market
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

I never like higher rates at any end of the curve. At every benchmark, you will first hear that every bull market ends because of higher rates. We have done well in the stock market at 7% on the 20-year and well at half that. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, He's, haven't, Tesla, —, Mike Wilsons, Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanley's, Here's, it's, there's, that's, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Jim Cramer Rob Kim Organizations: Companies, Federal Reserve, Big, ARM Holdings, Club, MarketEdge, United Auto Workers, UAW, Ford, ARM, American Free Trade, Netflix, Earth, Apple, Treasury, Fed, CNBC Locations: Mexico, United States, Canada

☆ US asks Mexico to review cargo airline pilots' rights
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 30 (Reuters) - The United States is asking Mexico to review whether the labor rights of pilots at a small cargo airline are being infringed, the eight such request Washington has made this year, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. Since the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on trade took effect in 2020, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative has now launched a total of 13 labor rights complaints against facilities in Mexico. The United States wants Mexico to probe if pilots at Mas Air, a Mexico City-based cargo airline, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. "Today's action highlights the United States is committed to safeguarding the labor rights enshrined in the USMCA across industries and sectors," Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a statement. Mexico has 10 days to agree to conduct a review and, if it agrees, 45 days from Wednesday to complete the review.

Persons: Katherine Tai, Washington, David Ljunggren, Sandra Maler Organizations: U.S . Trade Representative, United, Mas Air, Thomson Locations: United States, Mexico, Washington, U.S, Canada, Mexico City

☆ US seeks trade panel to resolve labor conflict at Mexican mine
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of mining and infrastructure firm Grupo Mexico is pictured at its headquarters in Mexico City, Mexico, August 8, 2017. In a statement, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said it disagrees with the Mexican government's determination. "It is appropriate to request a panel to verify the facility's compliance with Mexican labor laws," the USTR said. Companies have closely watched U.S. labor complaints play out since the 2020 start of the USMCA, which replaced NAFTA. Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City and Paul Grant in Washington; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Boyle in Mexico City; Editing by Dan Whitcomb, Andy Sullivan & Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ginnette, Daina Beth Solomon, Paul Grant, Brendan O'Boyle, Dan Whitcomb, Andy Sullivan Organizations: Grupo, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, U.S, Grupo Mexico's, U.S . Trade Representative, Companies, Miners, Grupo Mexico, Thomson Locations: Grupo Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, WASHINGTON, MEXICO, Grupo Mexico's San Martin, United States, Canada, Mexican, San Martin, U.S, Washington

Summary Canadian minister Ng notes progress with Mexico over energyUSTR Tai urges Mexico to monitor steel and aluminum exports to U.S.MEXICO CITY, July 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. sees some progress made on an energy dispute with Mexico, although "deep-seated" concerns persist, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Thursday shortly before talks in Mexico with top Mexican and Canadian trade officials. The U.S. and Canada demanded dispute settlement talks over energy with Mexico in July 2022, arguing that Mexico's nationalist energy policies, which have tightened state control over the energy market, were discriminatory to U.S. companies. Canada's Ng separately noted progress with Mexico over energy issues, saying concerns from Canadian companies had been addressed. In addition to the energy spat, the U.S. and Mexico are engaged in a dispute over Mexico's decree to limit the use of genetically modified (GM) corn. Before the meeting, Tai said trade dispute settlement consultations over GM corn, which the U.S. requested in June, began with Mexico last week.

Persons: Ng, Tai, Katherine Tai, Raquel Buenrostro, of International Trade Mary Ng, Canada's Ng, Daina Beth Solomon, Cassandra Garrison, Costas Pitas, Brendan O'Boyle, Marguerita Choy, Diane Craft Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Trade, USMCA Free Trade Commission, Mexican, of International Trade, Thomson Locations: Mexico, U.S, MEXICO, Canada, American, Mexican, Cancun

☆ As companies bring more jobs to Mexico, US wants labor rights safeguards
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MEXICO CITY, July 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. wants Mexico's government to build strong institutions to protect worker rights as companies aiming to avoid supply chain disruptions in far-off production spots bring more jobs to the country, a top U.S. labor official told Reuters. Mexico has begun to benefit from "nearshoring" in which companies seek to move production closer to the U.S. market while maintaining competitive costs. "Hopefully that will ensure that Mexico doesn't become a dumping ground for companies looking for cheap labor and lax regulations," said Thea Lee, U.S. Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs who polices USMCA compliance. Mexico has made progress improving labor courts, resolving worker complaints faster and easing union organization, but needs to do more, Lee said. Since 2020, several U.S. labor complaints in Mexico have paved the way for independent unions to land pay raises and even expand.

Persons: Thea Lee, Lee, Cristina Ramirez, Ramirez, Daina Beth Solomon, David Gregorio Our Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Reuters, International Labor Affairs, Goodyear, Grupo Mexico, VU Manufacturing, La Liga, VU, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Mexico, Canada, Piedras Negras

MEXICO CITY, June 2 (Reuters) - Mexico said on Friday it would counter U.S. arguments over agriculture biotech measures, including plans to limit its use of genetically modified (GM) corn, in trade dispute settlement consultations requested by Washington earlier in the day. If the consultations fail to resolve disagreements within 75 days, Washington can request a dispute settlement panel to decide the case. The United States requested formal trade consultations in March over objections to Mexico's plans to limit imports of GM corn and other agricultural biotechnology products. The new decree eliminated a deadline to ban GM corn for animal feed and industrial use, by far the bulk of its $5 billion worth of U.S. corn imports, but maintained a ban on GM corn used in dough or tortillas. Some sector experts have expressed concern that the move could set a precedent among other countries, which would disrupt the global corn trade.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, February's, Tom Haag, Cassandra Garrison, Adriana Barrera, Kylie Madry, Dave Graham, Ismail Shakil, Leslie Adler, William Mallard Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Washington, U.S, Trade Ministry, United, U.S . Trade, U.S ., Corn Growers Association, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Canada, U.S, Washington, United States, Mexican, Mexico City, Ottawa

MEXICO CITY, June 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. is escalating its conflict with Mexico over agriculture biotech measures, including the stance on genetically modified (GM) corn, by requesting dispute settlement consultations, senior officials of the U.S. Trade Representative's office said on Friday. If the consultations announced on Friday fail to resolve disagreements within 75 days, Washington can request a dispute settlement panel to decide the case. The United States requested formal trade consultations in March over objections to Mexico's plans to limit imports of GM corn and other agricultural biotechnology products. Earlier this week, Mexico's agriculture minister expressed confidence in an interview that the dispute with the U.S. would not escalate to a dispute settlement panel. The new decree eliminated the deadline to ban GM corn for animal feed and industrial use, by far the bulk of its $5 billion worth of U.S. corn imports, but maintained a ban on GM corn used in dough or tortillas.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Tom Vilsack, Tom Haag, Cassandra Garrison, Adriana Barrera, Ismail Shakil, Leslie Adler Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Trade, U.S, Trade Ministry, United, Economy Ministry, Agriculture, U.S ., Corn Growers Association, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Mexico, Canada, Washington, United States, Mexico City, Ottawa

☆ Mexico asks Texas to halt costly cargo inspections; will file USMCA complaint
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, May 15 (Reuters) - Mexico's economy ministry is urging the U.S. state of Texas to remove inspections of cargo crossing the border, which it said in a statement on Monday is causing millions of dollars in losses for U.S. and Mexican firms. The Mexican government will file a complaint with the trade facilitation committee under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement, which came into effect in 2020. Earlier this month, Texas started inspecting commercial vehicles crossing into the state from Mexico at a bridge connecting the Texas city of Brownsville with the Mexican city of Matamoros. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered similar inspections before. In April 2022, cargo inspections prompted significant supply chain disruptions until Abbott reached a deal with the governors of four neighboring Mexican states to increase security efforts.

☆ Thousands of union contracts to dissolve in Mexico's fight against pro-company deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mexico committed to eliminating these so-called "protection contracts" under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade pact that replaced the 1994 NAFTA. "This is historic, because we finally managed to rid the labor market of pretend contracts and fake unions," Labor Minister Alcalde said in an interview. Since the vote process began four years ago, workers have cast ballots on some 20,000 contracts in sectors spanning autos, retail and mining. The Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board, a U.S. advisory committee, said in March the small number of rejected contracts "raises serious doubts about the credibility" of the process. Alcalde said she expects unions to aim to establish new contracts in place of ones that were canceled.

☆ U.S. trade consultations on Mexico's GMO corn rule 'unacceptable violation' of law -Mexican official
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Adriana Barrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, April 27 (Reuters) - Trade consultations requested by the United States on Mexico's plan to limit the use of genetically modified corn are an "unacceptable violation" of Mexican law and feed the interests of seed "oligopolies," a top Mexican official said on Thursday. The United States, Mexico's main trading partner, requested the consultations in early March under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement, which calls for a science-based approach to domestic regulations. "The United States' request to Mexico follows the interests of seed, agrochemical, and other food-producing oligopolies," said Mexican Deputy Agriculture Minister Victor Suarez. Washington requested consultations after Mexico softened an original plan to ban GMO corn across the board and instead opened its use for animal feed and industrial use. The Mexican policy "does not affect U.S. corn producers in any way," Suarez said, contradictory to the U.S.' claims.

☆ Democrats warn large tech firms could evade competition policies under new trade rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It's not the first time Democrats have raised concerns about tech provisions being included in trade agreements. The group urged Tai and Raimondo "not to put up for negotiation or discussion any digital trade text that conflicts" with the agenda set by the whole-of-government effort. "Big Tech wants to include an overly broad provision that would help large tech firms evade competition policies by claiming that such policies subject these firms to 'illegal trade discrimination,'" the Democrats wrote. "Tech companies could also weaponize these digital trade rules to undermine similar efforts by our trading partners." The letter cited a U.S. Chamber of Commerce blog post about a trade group coalition note advocating for strong digital trade provisions in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

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