Nearly three weeks after the departure of Tatiana Clotheer of the Ministry of Economy and Luz Maria de la Mora of the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, directors-general who specialize in negotiations and international trade issues were asked to resign.
The purge comes at a time when talks are underway with treaty partners between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) on various aspects.
For example, in mid-November the decision of the Car Origin Rules Committee is expected; The phase of consultations against Mexico on energy policy and environmental issues under the treaty continues.
In addition, negotiations are continuing with the United Kingdom, and the start of tours with South Korea is suspended, while in November the Pacific Alliance Leaders Summit will be held.
Mexico must also provide answers to more than 800 questions posed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the occasion of the review of Mexican trade policy, explained expert and consultant on foreign trade, Jorge Molina.
“The departure of general managers is worrying because they are technical positions, not political, and you have to put someone who knows; the expert told EL Universal.
He is concerned that this could “further strain the relationship” with the United States and Canada, because “while you remove technicians, when you assign any alternative, it will take time for them to become familiar and that means the US and Canadian governments can read in the sense of That it will take more time, which could further strain the relationship with these countries.”
Molina, who was involved in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations at the time, explained that in DGs “you don’t negotiate anything, simply everything you do depends on what has already been negotiated, you don’t invent the black thread, you just defend.” About positions based on what was negotiated, hence the need to have people who are very technical and know the texts and the spirit of the texts.”
Sources from the Ministry of Economy, who requested anonymity, confirmed the departure of at least six general managers of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, either because of their request to resign or their decision to leave the agency.
They recalled that last Tuesday the heads of the Directorate-General for International Trade Discipline, which had been in charge of Cindy Rayo, were asked to resign; Directorate General of International Trade and Services, run by Rubisil Velazquez; Directorate General of International Trade, headed by Maximo Romero; The General Directorate of the Pacific Alliance, Céline Magdaleno, which was also responsible for the preparations for the mentioned bloc leaders summit, which Mexico will chair next November.
General Director of T-MEC Follow-up, Lydia Antonio, and head of the US T-MEC Implementation Office, Cesar Remes, who has followed up on energy issues and the relationship with the US government.
The sources confirmed that there will also be a new ambassador from the Ministry of Economy before the World Trade Organization.
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