- Title: Canada FM weighs in on NAFTA talks, Venezuela crisis during Mexico visit
- Date: 23rd May 2017
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MEXICAN FLAG WAVING OUTSIDE FOREIGN MINISTRY PEOPLE WALKING OUTSIDE FOREGROUND OF MINISTRY (LEFT TO RIGHT) MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER, LUIS VIDEGARY; CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, CHRYSTIA FREELAND; AND MEXICAN ECONOMY MINISTER, ILDEFONSO GUAJARDO, POSING FOR MEDIA MEDIA AND OFFICIALS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, CHRYSTIA FREELAND, SAYING: "That it is possible to have a NAFTA renegotiation which is about modernising this agreement, about bringing it up to date with the 21st century economy and about making it a better agreement for all three countries. That is going to be the Canadian approach. Having said that, let me also be very clear that Canada will defend our national, economic interests and we will stand up for our values. We will do that always and we will do that in this negotiation." GENERAL VIEW OF FOREIGN MINISTERS STANDING AT LECTERNS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN ECONOMY MINISTER, ILDEFONSO GUAJARDO, SAYING: "We firmly believe that trade is undoubtedly a motor for growth and development, and that integration should be evolved, including in pursuing the national interests of the three nations." GENERAL VIEW OF FOREIGN MINISTERS STANDING AT LECTERNS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, CHRYSTIA FREELAND, SAYING: "On Venezuela, it is a situation there of grave concern to Canada. We are energetically involved in efforts at the OAS (Organisation of American States) to find a resolution to the crisis in Venezuela. We have been working in very close partnership with our Mexican partners, also with Argentina, also with the Secretary General of the OAS (Luis Almagro). This is really a crisis situation which is causing great hardship for the people of Venezuela and also is a crisis for our hemisphere." MEDIA AND OFFICIALS GATHERED AT NEWS CONFERENCE GUAJARDO STANDING BY VIDEGARAY AS HE SPEAKING AT LECTERN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER, LUIS VIDEGARY, SAYING: "It is a complex, serious conflict, where the economic situation is undoubtedly precarious in that violence has become a regular occurrence at public protests. But there is also a disruption in democratic order. Mexico will continue to work in the OAS with countries with which we share a vision with in regards to democracy in the region and the fundamental principles that should be followed in the continent. One of those (countries) is Canada." PEOPLE LISTENING ON AT NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEGARAY, FREELAND, GUAJARDO POSING FOR MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEGARAY, FREELAND, GUAJARDO LEAVING ROOM AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 7th June 2017 00:08
- Keywords: NAFTA USA trade democracy Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray Canadian Foreign Minister Chrsytia Freeland Canada negotiations Mexico Mexican Economy MInister Ildefonso Guajardo Venezuela
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I294CJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Canada's Foreign Minister told a news conference in Mexico on Tuesday (May 23) that Ottawa will seek to renegotiate NAFTA in the country's favour, after Washington kicked off a countdown to re-negotiate the free trade deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to leave the North American Free Trade Agreement if it cannot be reworked in favour of U.S. workers, and his administration last week set the clock toward a mid-August start of renegotiation in a letter to the U.S. Congress.
Freeland said there was room to update the NAFTA agreement, which was ratified in 1994 and which has been updated a number of times since.
Mexico has cast a series of red lines in talks with the United States over NAFTA, including caps on exports and the introduction of tariffs onto particular products.
Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo reaffirmed the Latin American country's view that free trade is good for the economies of the region.
Also on the agenda in Mexico was Venezuela. The death toll at protests against President Nicolas Maduro has topped 50 amidst public cries for an early election due to a flailing economy and widespread product shortages.
Ottawa and Mexico City have been working with regional partners such as Argentina in seeking a democratic solution to the political stalemate in Caracas.
Mexico's Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray has stoked the ire of Maduro in his calls for elections in Venezuela. The OPEC nation has already delayed its state elections and now President Maduro is seeking to set up a constituent assembly with powers to change the constitution. Venezuela's opposition accuses the Socialist leader of laying the groundwork to keep him in power.
During her visit to Mexico, Freeland visited President Enrique Pena Nieto and will hold an event with business leaders in the country.
Canada has previously supported Mexico's claims in NAFTA negotiations that all talks over the regional deal should be held trilaterally. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None