- Title: Mexico seeks cooperation after Trump win, says country's FM
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (NOVEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF GOVERNMENT BUILDING MEXICO'S FOREIGN MINISTER, CLAUDIA RUIZ MASSIEU, AT PUBLIC EVENT PEOPLE AT EVENT CLAPPING GENERAL OF EVENT RUIZ MASSIEU GETTING UP TO GIVE SPEECH ATTENDEES LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICO'S FOREIGN MINISTER, CLAUDIA RUIZ MASSIEU, SAYING: "The bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States does not end, nor does it begin with an election. On the contrary, Mexico and the United States have one of the deepest, most multifaceted, institutionalized, mature and solid alliances that two countries in the world can have. Historically, Mexico has established respectful, constructive and mutually beneficial treatment with governments in the United States, regardless of its partisan extraction and this time will not be the exception." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICO'S FOREIGN MINISTER, CLAUDIA RUIZ MASSIEU, SAYING: "In his first speech as President-elect, Mr. Donald Trump expressly expressed his willingness to close the campaign stage and to open a new chapter, as ruler, to work and cooperate with all people and countries and Mexico will take him at his word and we want to build in this new stage of challenges, no doubt, new opportunities for our people." OFFICIALS AT EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICO'S FOREIGN MINISTER, CLAUDIA RUIZ MASSIEU, SAYING: "The protection and empowerment of our countrymen in the United States, who are an engine of economic growth but also of growth and cultural and social enrichment in the United States, will continue as a priority for the government of the Republic." ATTENDEES CLAPPING VARIOUS OF RUIZ MASSIEU AT EVENT
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 18:39
- Keywords: Mexico Trump election relations diplomacy
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00157V5G7B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexico's foreign minister said on Thursday (November 10) the Latin American country would work with Donald Trump for the benefit of both nations after his surprise win in the U.S. presidential election.
As Trump strode toward victory, the peso plunged 13 percent in its biggest fall since the Tequila Crisis devaluation 22 years ago, before paring losses to trade down 8.7 percent at 19.91 per dollar. Still, officials held back from taking action to support the peso despite it hitting lifetime lows the night of Trump's win.
Trump's threats to dump the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) agreement with Mexico and Canada, and to tax money sent home by Mexican migrants to pay for the controversial wall on the southern border, have made the peso particularly vulnerable to events in the U.S. presidential race.
Nevertheless, bilateral relations between both countries have endured despite changes in the U.S. presidency, foreign minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu said.
"The bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States does not end, nor does it begin with an election. On the contrary, Mexico and the United States have one of the deepest, most multifaceted, institutionalized, mature and solid alliances that two countries in the world can have. Historically, Mexico has established respectful, constructive and mutually beneficial treatment with governments in the United States, regardless of its partisan extraction and this time will not be the exception," Ruiz Massieu said.
Welcoming Trump's victory speech pledge to seek "common ground" and partnership with other countries, Ruiz Massieu said Mexico shared the same vision.
"In his first speech as President-elect, Mr. Donald Trump expressly expressed his willingness to close the campaign stage and to open a new chapter, as ruler, to work and cooperate with all people and countries and Mexico will take him at his word and we want to build in this new stage of challenges, no doubt, new opportunities for our people," she said.
Ruiz Massieu also said Mexico would seek to protect Mexicans living in the U.S.
"The protection and empowerment of our countrymen in the United States, who are an engine of economic growth but also of growth and cultural and social enrichment in the United States, will continue as a priority for the government of the Republic," Ruiz Massieu added.
President Enrique Pena Nieto said he called to congratulate Trump, and had agreed to meet the New Yorker during the transition phase to discuss joint cooperation, which he hopes would strengthen the competitiveness of North America.
On Wednesday (November 9), Ruiz Massieu reiterated that Mexico would not pay for Trump's proposed wall. The vow to make Mexico pay for the barrier was a key feature of Trump's stump speeches and stirred up deep resentment during a fraught presidential campaign.
For now, the market also pulled back from its initial panic. The peso recovered from its low after Trump took a measured tone in his victory speech and did not invoke any of his threats against Mexico, analysts said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
