President Trump initially established the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during his first term but later abandoned it after retaking office last year. He imposed tariffs on both Mexico and Canada, leading to a trade conflict with Canada. Amna Nawaz interviewed Mexico's Foreign Secretary, Roberto Velasco Álvarez, regarding ongoing trade discussions between the two countries.
Scheduled talks on Monday to review the USMCA were postponed. This agreement was originally negotiated during Trump's first term and subsequently discarded.
While the trade conflict with Canada continues, Mexican officials are adopting a different strategy, even as Trump made critical remarks about Mexico this week.
In an interview from his New York mission, Foreign Secretary Velasco Álvarez responded to Trump's comments, which labeled Mexico as the epicenter of cartel violence. He stated that under the Sheinbaum administration, Mexico has experienced a reduction of over 50 percent in the homicide rate over the past two years. He noted that various crimes in the country are also on a downward trend, marking significant progress against crime in Latin America.
However, he acknowledged ongoing security challenges, particularly with factions of the Sinaloa cartel, and mentioned that the murder rate for women is at its highest in 14 years. He also addressed the Trump administration's designation of eight Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, which has raised concerns about potential military action against Mexico.
Velasco Álvarez emphasized the importance of security cooperation with the United States, grounded in respect for Mexico's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He affirmed that military actions would not be welcomed in Mexico, as such matters are governed by Mexican law.
Regarding the postponed trade talks, Velasco Álvarez reassured that there is no cause for concern. He stated that discussions with the U.S. trade representative continue, focusing on the USMCA review and the tariffs imposed by the U.S. While no agreement has been reached yet, he indicated that constructive engagement is ongoing.
He also mentioned that Mexico maintains a robust network of free trade agreements with over 60 countries, suggesting that Mexico is exploring other trading partnerships while still valuing its relationship with the United States.
On the topic of immigration, Velasco Álvarez addressed the legal actions taken by the Mexican government concerning the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. He highlighted the importance of protecting the human rights of Mexican citizens and confirmed that investigations into these incidents are ongoing. He stressed the need for justice in cases of legal violations.
The interview concluded with Velasco Álvarez reiterating the importance of addressing each case of death in custody individually and ensuring that conditions leading to such incidents are rectified.