T-MEC will experience “some changes” to be ratified by the US

[Inkriql]

The US ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau, pointed this Sunday to the possibility that the renewed North American trade agreement (T-MEC) undergo some "changes" for ratification by the US House of Representatives.

“It is a negotiating process between the Executive Branch and the United States Legislative. I suppose it is possible that there are changes and I believe that Mexico and Canada are awaiting the changes that have been requested, ”Landau said in a talk at the International Book Fair (FIL) in Guadalajara.

The ambassador, who took office three months ago after more than a year in which the position was vacant, admitted that this process "is complicated", given that Mexico has already ratified the treaty and there should be "acceptance of the changes by the three countries, "although he did not specify what kind of changes.

On November 30, 2018, the Governments of Mexico, then chaired by Enrique Peña Nieto, the United States and Canada concluded the negotiation of the T-MEC, which should replace the current North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), in force since 1994, once it has been ratified by the congresses of the three countries.

The White House wants there to be a vote before the end of this year but the House of Representatives is controlled by the Democratic opposition and its president, Nancy Pelosi, has shown reservations regarding labor rights and salaries and environmental or related issues. Great pharmaceuticals

"The treaty is a win-win situation and, therefore, I think it will be ratified and I hope it will be at the end of this year, before Christmas," said Landau, whose wish was to be ratified before the Action of Thank you, last November 28.

The ambassador was "optimistic", although he warned "you never know what will happen in politics."

Ladau, who pointed out security, migration and the economy as his three priorities, defended the United States' management to block the access of migrant caravans, since "if you let people in illegally, it is already settled and rooted and it gets more complicated. "

"It is important to note that it is not a matter of xenophobia, but of maintaining our rule of law," said the diplomat, who presented the case of his father, who escaped from Nazism and spent three years waiting in Colombia until he obtained a visa for U.S.

On the fight against drug trafficking, Landau stressed that “the importance of the security problem of Mexico and the power of drug traffickers cannot be denied” after the chaos that the city of Culiacán experienced during the failed capture of Ovidio Guzmán, son of Joaquin “ El Chapo ”Guzmán, on October 17.

The ambassador called for cooperation between the United States and Mexico to achieve "the destruction of these criminal gangs" and asked not to "blame each other" for the violence.

“We have a very big drug problem in our country and I recognize that we are part of the problem for Mexico. We are in demand for drugs and many weapons of drug traffickers come from the United States. We also want to be part of the solution, ”he said.