Antonio Baranda and Claudia Guerrero / Reform Agency
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 | 20:26
Mexico City.- The governments of Mexico, the United States, and Canada agreed to create a joint committee for planning and import substitution in North America.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in charge of making the announcement, stressed that said committee seeks to strengthen the economic and commercial relations of the three countries.
Also, said the President, try to be increasingly self-sufficient, as well as “make development, cooperation and well-being a reality.”
During the joint message that the Presidents of the three countries gave in the Central Patio of the National Palace, he explained that each country will propose four members to integrate the Committee.
“(It will be a) group of 12 specialists who, in addition to being knowledgeable about the subject, the subject in question, will have our absolute confidence,” he said.
“To motivate, persuade, and convince businessmen, workers, and public servants of the three governments about the importance, the importance of uniting in North America and looking forward for union throughout the American continent.”
López Obrador announced that Mexico will propose Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Relations; Rogelio Ramírez de la O, Secretary of the Treasury and Raquel Buenrostro, Secretary of the Economy; and Alfonso Romo Garza, in his capacity as an independent businessman.
Also, as a matter of priority, we address the economic and commercial integration, as I have already expressed, of the entire American continent, as well as the well-being of the peoples and the new relations of cooperation, leaving behind hegemonic interventionism.
“The mere fact of meeting as good neighbors, in an atmosphere of respect to seek together the well-being of our peoples, is already in itself a historic event,” he stressed.
“However, I emphasize that we agreed to strengthen our economic and commercial relations,” added López Obrador before his counterparts Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau.
The Chief Executive called on his counterparts to treat each other not only as “good neighbors” but also as friends and economic allies.
He emphasized, as he does in his daily conferences and events, that social problems are not solved by coercive measures alone and that peace is the fruit of justice.
“We would of course help make this dream a reality and we are excited that it can be achieved,” he added.
