Mexico Agrees to Resume Trade Negotiations with China to Endorse Membership in World Trade Organization

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Mexico moved one step closer to endorsing China's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) after President Vicente Fox agreed to resume trade negotiations with that country that have been stalled since the end of 2000.

Fox announced the Mexican government's decision during a trip to three Asian countries in early June that included stops in Beijing and Shanghai. Fox was in Shanghai to attend this year's meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which includes Mexico.

China has gained the endorsement of most WTO members in its bid to join the organization, but Mexico has declined to give its complete support until the two sides could agree on disputes regarding intellectual property, agriculture, and other matters.

The two countries had made some progress on these issues during discussions last year, but negotiations were suspended at the end of 2000 because of the change of administration in Mexico (see SourceMex, 2000-11-15).

China is also trying to convince Mexico to relax the stiff anti-dumping duties imposed on several Chinese products in 1994 and renewed in 2000 (see SourceMex, 1994-11-02, 2000- 04-05).

Economy Secretary Derbez to visit China in July

During his visit to Shanghai, Fox announced that …