Mexico, US presidents promise to extend free trade
15/3/2007 15:47
Presidents Felipe Calderon of Mexico and George W. Bush of the United
States held a series of meetings yesterday, promising to extend the free trade
agreement between the two nations.
Calderon told reporters after the talks
that the two had agreed to set up working groups seeking a broader agreement,
which will include sensitive products like corn and beans. Bush said that
neither nation is seeking to weaken free trade, instead they are seeking to
increase it and boost border security.
With Canada as a third partner, the
three nations have been operating the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
since 1994. The US is Mexico's largest trading partner, while Mexico is the US's
third largest partner, after China and Canada.
At a press conference notable
for its intense security measures, both leaders described the talks as warm and
fruitful.
Wednesday was Bush's last day in Mexico, and the last day of the
five-nation Latin America tour that began last Wednesday in Brazil and visited
Uruguay, Colombian and Guatemala. He arrived on Monday in Merida, the capital
city of the eastern Mexico state of Yucatan.
Calderon and Bush denied having
spoken about oil and pressure of United States interests in privatizing the
sector, which Mexico 's constitution says must be controlled by the
state.
The talks, however, covered trade, migration, the fight against drug
trafficking, and frontier security.
Calderon expressed his confidence that
Bush's visit would mark the beginning of a new relationship between Mexico and
the United States, adding that the two nations would share responsibility in
economics, trade and fighting drug trafficking.
Bush said he recognized
Calderon's firm stance against drug trafficking and said that stronger measures
against US drug consumption were needed.
Calderon said that the border must
halt the flow of drugs, but at the same time speed the flow of goods and
people.
Bush also restated a promise to achieve a thoroughgoing migratory
reform, which benefits all Mexicans and also makes the U. S. border more
secure.
Both before and after Bush's visit, demonstrators protested both in
Merida and Mexico City, the nation's capital, against it.
Each nation visited
by Bush has seen protests against Washington's warlike policy in Iraq, and
against his bid to dominate Latin America economically.
Bush returns to
Washington later on Wednesday.
Xinhua
|
