- Title: Latam Foreign Ministers condemn Trump Paris Accord withdrawal, talk up free trade
- Date: 2nd June 2017
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY JOURNALIST INSIDE FOREIGN MINISTRY WITH BANNER THAT READS "PACIFIC ALLIANCE" MINISTERS OF TRADE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PACIFIC ALLIANCE ENTERING ROOM TO SIGN ACCORD MINISTERS OF TRADE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PACIFIC ALLIANCE ARRIVING ON STAGE TO SIGN ACCORD GENERAL VIEW OF ACCORD SIGNING CEREMONY BETWEEN FOREIGN MINISTERS AND MINISTERS OF TRADE IN THE ALLIANCE OF THE PACIFIC CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER HERALDO MUNOZ SIGNING ACCORD COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARIA ANGELA OLGUIN SIGNING ACCORD PERU TRADE MINISTER EDUARDO FERREYROS (RIGHT) SIGNING ACCORD GENERAL VIEW OF MINISTERS CLAPPING AFTER SIGNING ACCORD CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER HERALDO MUNOZ SHOWING SIGNED ACCORD, STANDING NEXT TO MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER LUIS VIDEGARAY MUNOZ GIVING SPEECH FROM PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER HERALDO MUNOZ, SAYING: "Finally, we're deeply worried and deeply disappointed with the United States' withdrawal from the Paris accord on climate change. Many of our countries are countries vulnerable to climate change and what we can say is that we maintain our multilateral commitment with this Paris agreement because the fate of future generations depends on this. Thank you!" MINISTERS DURING CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER HERALDO MUNOZ, SAYING: "We are giving a sign of integration, of cooperation, at a time when protectionist temptations seem to predominate. The closure of borders, with the withdrawal from international organisations and conventions." COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARIA ANGELA HOLGUIN AND COLOMBIAN COMMERCE MINISTER MARIA LACOUTURE, DURING CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER HERALDO MUNOZ, SAYING: "There is a difference from these trends. Here we are giving a clear expression to continue to develop our integration, not only between the four members of the Pacific Alliance but looking at the Pacific Asian region and also looking at other blocks in our region, such as Mercosur and the Asia Pacific block." MINISTERS AT END OF CEREMONY MEXICAN FLAG WAVING OUTSIDE FOREIGN MINISTRY
- Embargoed: 16th June 2017 22:47
- Keywords: Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Olguin Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray Chile Foreign Minister Herlado Munoz Mexico City Pacific Alliance trade Mexico
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JL6R7N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord came under fire in Mexico City on Friday (June 02) during a meeting to boost free trade across the region.
Earlier this week, Trump announced he would withdraw the United States from the landmark 2015 global agreement to fight climate change, drawing anger and condemnation from world leaders and heads of industry.
After signing an accord to boost trade under the Pacific Alliance with his Mexican and Colombian counterparts, Chile's Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz expressed concern about the US decision to leave the Paris agreement.
Created in 2011, the Pacific Alliance has four members-- Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru-- and currently has 52 observer states. Meetings and agreements signed between the countries seek to increase free commerce and trade across the region. Recently, the member states finalised an accord that will liberalise pension fund investments across the Alliance.
The Pacific Alliance is in contrast to Trump's "America First" agenda, with Munoz warning against protectionism in the Americas. The Latin American member states are now looking towards Asia Pacific's emerging economies to move closer to the Alliance.
The Pacific Alliance brings together over 200 million citizens and its exports are valued at nearly $500 billion annually. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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