Mexico is monitoring the daily evolution and affirms that "as of yesterday, Mexico has the best tariff status today compared to other countries, even Canada." Secretary of the Economy Marcelo Ebrard sought to send a message of calm amidst the uncertainty surrounding the T-MEC review following statements from US President Donald Trump. Public hearings with observations on the functioning of the T-MEC are currently underway in Washington. Ebrard emphasized that this position does not mean the outlook is ideal, but it represents the best relative situation among all partners. He also added that the majority of participants perceive that tariffs go against the spirit of the agreement, a topic that will be reflected in the January report. Regarding the negotiation of tariffs, which he himself had hoped to resolve by the end of the year, the secretary avoided committing to dates. Ebrard insisted that his last conversation with his counterparts in Washington occurred a few days ago and that everything indicates the review will proceed as planned. He also previewed some elements of the document that the Secretariat of the Economy will present in January, once the observations from T-MEC users in recent weeks are synthesized. "90% of the presentations made are to maintain the agreement," he assured and added that there are sectors, such as agriculture, that demand equitable conditions due to subsidies, but still consider that the agreement must continue. Ebrard acknowledged that there are differences between sectors on what adjustments to request. He defended his team's work: "We have advanced a lot, and the relationship with USTR is not good but the next best thing, despite not agreeing on many things." "We are one of the countries that has had the most presence, and I believe we will soon have good news," he said. "Commerce wants greater openness, while manufacturing prefers more protectionism," he summarized.
