Mexico Says Fourth Round of US Trade Talks Delayed, October Slot Eyed
Mexico's deputy economy minister says the fourth round of US trade talks is postponed, with October a possible new date, as technical coordination continues.
The fourth round of trade negotiations between Mexico and the United States will not go ahead next week and may instead be scheduled for October, a senior Mexican trade official said on Wednesday.
Luis Rosendo Gutierrez, Mexico's deputy economy minister for foreign trade, attributed the postponement to scheduling conflicts, pointing to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States and the forthcoming G20 summit as factors reshaping the diplomatic calendar.
Even with the formal round on hold, Gutierrez said technical coordination with the US Trade Representative's Office is continuing on a daily basis.
The two sides are working toward an interim bilateral arrangement that could give Mexico relief from some US tariffs while addressing American concerns in areas such as automotive content and Chinese investment.
Speaking to reporters after the bi-national convention of the American Society of Mexico in Mexico City, Gutierrez set out Mexico's chief objective in the talks. "Our priority is reducing Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles," he said.
The scope of the negotiations has widened considerably, growing from 54 issues to nearly 90. Gutierrez characterised the expansion as a natural consequence of dealing with complex subjects such as digital platform regulation.