In an interview for MVS Noticias with Manuel López San Martín, Eduardo Torreblanca, a contributor to MVS Noticias, warned that, despite the recent 90-day extension to prevent the 30% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles from going into effect, tensions persist in the Mexico-US relationship, primarily due to insecurity and narco-politics.
“This period is just extra time granted by the rival; it alleviates, but does not resolve. Mexico no longer needs more uncertainty, because that has a cost in terms of gross domestic product points,” he noted.
The Impact of Organized Crime
The MVS Noticias contributor emphasized that security and organized crime are determining factors in the trade dynamics between the two countries, recalling that former President Donald Trump once declared Mexican cartels terrorist organizations.
“I don’t know if it’s worth trying to defend a handful of corrupt politicians who failed to prioritize their responsibility to do good. Out of shame, they should resign and submit to investigation, instead of condemning Mexico to 90 more days of uncertainty,” he stated.
Lost Opportunities and Room for Progress
Torreblanca explained that foreign trade supports between 5 and 6 million direct jobs and more than 12 million indirect jobs in Mexico. However, the lack of deeper agreements with the United States limits the region’s growth:
Mexico-US Trade Relations: What Factors Put It at Risk and Which Sectors Are Affected?
“We could talk about a customs, energy, and food production union. We are the only region in the world that could be self-sufficient and have a surplus in basic foodstuffs. But that requires addressing the demands of our main partner.”
Finally, the analyst emphasized that the Mexican president needs greater room for maneuver to address these challenges and strengthen the Mexico-US relationship ahead of the revision of the Free Trade Agreement in 2026.
Source: mvsnoticias
