The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, clarified that the sending of a Mexican delegation to Lima to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is not aimed at easing diplomatic tensions between Mexico and Peru. Responding to questions about whether the presence of the Undersecretary of International Trade from the Ministry of Economy, Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez, could signify a rapprochement between the two nations, Sheinbaum indicated that it 'represents nothing more than participation in the APEC.'
Relations between Peru and Mexico remain tense, as evidenced by the fact that Peru was not invited to Sheinbaum's recent swearing-in ceremony on October 1. These tensions date back to 2022 when the Mexican ambassador Pablo Monroy was expelled from Peru after Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called President Dina Boluarte a 'usurper' for taking office from Pedro Castillo, who was ousted by the Peruvian Congress following an attempted coup.
Gutiérrez's trip gains importance in the context of the review of the trade agreement between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (T-MEC) scheduled for 2026. This process may present frictions, especially considering the threats of tariffs by former U.S. President Donald Trump following his victory in the elections.
The APEC Leaders' Week is being held in Lima and will culminate on Saturday with the meeting and declaration of the leaders of 21 member economies, including China and the United States. APEC brings together 21 territories from Asia and America bordering the Pacific Ocean, and participants include Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Peru, Russia, the United States, and other countries.
