Thursday 28 March 2024

Logo Central America Link

Mexico: export platform for the world?

Monday 22 May, 2017


So close to the United States, so far from God, said Mexican President Porfirio Diaz a century ago.

So close to the United States, so far from the rest of the world, he might say today, as threats loom over trade with a neighboring country, which takes 75% of Mexican total exports of some $400 million.

While waiting to see what comes of a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, one solution is to look at other countries.

With efficient logistics and promotion, China and Russia could represent significant opportunities for Mexican industrial goods, and fresh and packaged foods.

Mexico's objective in the Nafta renegotiation should be to turn the country into an export platform for the world, said economist Luis De la Calle, a member of the Mexican team, which negotiated Nafta in the 1990.

Tourism is another possibility, as Mexico considers eliminating a visa requirement for Chinese visitors, who last year numbered 500,000, the same as those from Russia.

Mexico last year had a total of 35 million foreign visitors.

Various aircraft can fly non-stop between Mexico City and any of Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing, as well as Moscow.

Currently, Aeromexico has a non-stop Tijuana-Shanghai connection.

Nafta renegotiation among the United States, Mexico and Canada is expected to start in August.