The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said on Wednesday that “the best thing is free trade” and reiterated that he will seek an agreement without confrontation with the United States at the high level meeting in Washington for the announcement of the imposition of tariffs.
“The best thing is free trade, not impose tariffs, tariffs, not close,” said the president questioned by the meeting of Wednesday of the Mexican Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, with the US Vice President, Mike Pence, and the Secretary of State of USA, Mike Pompeo, in Washington.
López Obrador, who in recent days has been confident of the success of the meeting, insisted Wednesday that he is “optimistic” and will maintain “the friendship relationship” after the tariff dispute.
He recalled that in situations of conflict there are three possibilities; open a war, avoid conflict by closing the dialogue or, your option, which is to seek communication and avoid isolation.
“We want to maintain unity with the people and the United States Government and maintain very good relations with President Donald Trump,” he added.
Questioned by the press, he also ruled out that Mexico should open to trade with other important nations such as China or Russia, but added that, despite this diversification, the relationship with the United States must always be “cultivated”.
The only limit to the conflict, he said, would be if the United States interfered in the “sovereignty and dignity” of the Mexican people.
If an agreement is not reached before June 10, the United States will impose tariffs of 5% on all Mexican imports.
And each month it will gradually increase until it reaches 25% in October, unless Mexico substantially curbs the flow of undocumented migrants who arrive at the US southern border.
Since mid-October, the number of migrants crossing Mexico to reach the United States has grown exponentially.
Mainly due to the phenomenon of migrant caravans – with thousands of mostly Central Americans – traveling in groups for security reasons and to put more pressure on the immigration authorities.
Many of these are young families with children. (EFE) .-
