Mexico must address US’ ‘serious concerns’ over energy measures, USTR says

According to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office, a U.S. trade official underlined the importance of Mexico addressing “serious concerns” from the United States on its energy policies that were brought up during consultations under a regional trade agreement.

In a meeting with his Mexican colleague Alejandro Encinas on Wednesday in Mexico, Deputy Trade Representative Jayme White pushed Mexico to alter its energy policies, which the United States claims unfairly discriminate against its industries.

In July 2022, the United States and Canada requested dispute resolution proceedings with Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement regarding Mexico’s energy strategy. According to Reuters’s exclusive story earlier this month, the U.S. intends to escalate the conflict.

The “recent surge” in American imports of specific steel and aluminum products from Mexico, as well as the “lack of transparency” around those imports, were among the issues raised by White, according to the USTR.

According to the USTR, White and Encinas also discussed current USMCA talks over Mexico’s enforcement of environmental rules relating to fishing.

The critically endangered vaquita porpoise and totoaba fish trafficking, according to the United States, are not sufficiently protected in Mexico.