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  1. Negotiations

Mexico


January 2004 saw the entry into force of NAFTA, the free-trade agreement with the US and Canada. This agreement set the pattern for the US imposition of FTAs elsewhere. It contains basic elements that would be repeated in many subsequent FTAs. By the same token, its adoption kickstarted the civil society movement of resistance to FTAs that has been gathering strength for the last 15 years.

In addition to NAFTA, Mexico has signed the following FTAs:
- Bolivia (1994)
- Costa Rica (1994)
- Group of Three (Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela (1994); Venezuela pulled out in November 2006; in March 2011, the Mexican Congress agreed to extend the Colombian FTA to agriculture)
- Nicaragua (1997)
- Chile (1998)
- EU (1999)
- EFTA (2000)
- Israel (2000)
- Northern Triangle (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, 2000)
- Uruguay (2003)
- Japan (2005)
- Central America (2011, unifying all previous FTAs with the different countries)
- Peru (ratified by the Mexican Congress in December 2011)

The government is currently in FTA discussions with Panama, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and others.

Mexico's FTAs with Colombia, Peru and Brazil have been the focus of intense resistance from the farming and fishing sectors.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Presidencia de la Repúblida de México - CC BY 2.0

Mexico-Brazil begin free trade talks on Feb. 28, Reforma says
11-Feb-2011     Bloomberg
The governments of Mexico and Brazil will begin formal negotiations on Feb. 28 to reach a free-trade agreement, newspaper Reforma reported.
Mexico, Brazil launch talks toward bilateral trade deal
9-Nov-2010     Reuters
Brazil and Mexico said on Monday they would start talks toward a bilateral trade deal in a bid to draw Latin America's top two economies closer together.
Mexico opposition party and industry groups oppose new FTAs, including FTA with Brazil
13-Sep-2010     Lexology
After concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan, Mexico halted new FTA negotiations in light of pressure from private sector representatives and sensitive domestic industries, notably agriculture, who oppose ongoing trade negotiations with Brazil and South Korea.
Mexico-Central America free-trade negotiations advance
10-Aug-2010     Tico Times
The second round of negotiations for a single Mexico-Central America Free Trade Agreement – as opposed to the series of agreements now in force – began Monday in El Salvador.
Mexico interested in signing FTA with Peru, says Foreign Minister
9-Jun-2010     Andina
Mexico is interested in signing a Free Trade Agreement with Peru and maintain a fluent political dialogue between both countries, Mexico’s foreign minister Patricia Espinoza announced Tuesday, after holding a bilateral meeting with her Peruvian counterpart, José García Belaunde.
Mexico's president favor trade deal with Brazil
17-Aug-2009    
Mexican President Felipe Calderon says he supports the idea of a free trade agreement between Brazil and Mexico, the two biggest economies in Latin America.
Mexico's Calderon pushes for Panama trade deal
5-Mar-2008    
Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday said Mexico was ready to talk to Panama about restarting stalled discussions on a free trade deal.
Mexico's shoemakers feel squeeze of globalization
8-Jan-2008     Chicago Tribune
Mexicans can't match the low wages and cheap production of China, and they can't keep up with the technology and productivity of the US and other industrialized economies.
Competition with China: if you can't beat it, join it
2-Nov-2007     IPS
China has beaten Mexico hands down in terms of trade in the past few years, and may do even better after December, when a "peace clause" expires.
The EU-Mexico free trade agreement seven years on: A warning to the global South
16-Jul-2007     TNI
Seven years on, the impact of the EU-Mexico FTA is clear. Instead of the promised economic and social benefits, the treaty has left the Mexican state unable to implement policies to promote local small and medium size companies.