- Title: Mexican president thanks Trump for not mentioning border wall at summit
- Date: 10th July 2020
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JULY 10, 2020) (REUTERS) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, AT LECTERN AT START OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, SAYING: "It (border wall) wasn't an issue we wanted to deal with, and we don't want to deal with it. We thank him for not raising the subject in public. During the dinner there was a mention, but without the purpose of imposing anything." LOPEZ OBRADOR LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, SAYING: "And, I hope with my whole soul that this respectful, non-discriminatory treatment continues for our countrymen. We did say that, we spoke about it, and our appreciation for our countrymen to be treated well, like they deserve." LOPEZ OBRADOR SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, SAYING: "There's no possibility for President Trump to visit us for now. We thought it was time to make this trip due to the agreement (USMCA). It was the right time. Some thought it wasn't the right time, but we decided to go precisely because the campaigns in the United States will soon intensify." LOPEZ OBRADOR STEPS ASIDE FOR MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARCELO EBRARD, TO SPEAK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARCELO EBRARD, SAYING: "It wouldn't be prudent right now to open (the U.S.-Mexican) border because we'll cause a new outbreak. Therefore, what we're exploring with local authorities - because we always take into account their point of view, I'm speaking of cities as well as state governments - is that the restrictions on non-essential travel be extended from July 21 into the month of August when we have a decrease (in coronavirus cases) in the area." MEXICAN ECONOMY MINISTER, GRACIELA MARQUEZ COLIN, AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
- Embargoed: 24th July 2020 16:44
- Keywords: Donald Trump Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Mexico U.S.A. USMCA bilateral border wall insults relations trade agreement visit
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO & WASHINGTON, DC, USA
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO & WASHINGTON, DC, USA
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CM89HDZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday (July 10) expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for avoiding in public the thorny subject of the U.S. president's promised border wall during a summit in Washington earlier this week.
Lopez Obrador also thanked his U.S. counterpart for a "non-discriminatory treatment" during his visit, a reference to Trump's past insults toward Mexico and its migrants.
"We thank him for not raising the subject (of the border wall) in public," Lopez Obrador told reporters at a news conference, adding that the wall was mentioned during a White House dinner "but without the purpose of imposing anything."
Lopez Obrador said the issue was not raised because it was agreed the meeting would focus on common ground.
The summit mostly focused on economic issues, in particular the celebration of a revamped North American trade accord that took effect this month.
Dating back to his successful 2016 presidential campaign, Trump made the construction of a wall on the country's southern border a signature pledge, while also promising to force Mexico to pay for it.
His administration has constructed new sections of high fencing along the roughly 2,000-mile (3,220-km) U.S.-Mexico border.
The Mexican president was sharply criticized on both sides of the border for meeting with Trump just four months before U.S. voters go to the polls to decide if the Republican president seeking reelection will win a second term.
Overall, Lopez Obrador hailed his Washington trip as a success. He said Trump had an open invitation to visit Mexico, but that such a trip was not currently possible due to the ongoing U.S. presidential election campaign.
(Production: Carlos Carrillo, Patrick Alwine) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None