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Mexico

January 2004 saw the entry into force of NAFTA, the free-trade agreement with the US and Canada. This agreement set the pattern for the US imposition of FTAs elsewhere. It contains basic elements that would be repeated in many subsequent FTAs. By the same token, its adoption kickstarted the civil society movement of resistance to FTAs that has been gathering strength for the last 15 years.

In addition to NAFTA, Mexico has signed the following FTAs:
 Bolivia (1994)
 Costa Rica (1994)
 Group of Three (Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela (1994); Venezuela pulled out in November 2006; in March 2011, the Mexican Congress agreed to extend the Colombian FTA to agriculture)
 Nicaragua (1997)
 Chile (1998)
 EU (1999)
 EFTA (2000)
 Israel (2000)
 Northern Triangle (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, 2000)
 Uruguay (2003)
 Japan (2005)
 Central America (2011, unifying all previous FTAs with the different countries)
 Peru (ratified by the Mexican Congress in December 2011)

The government is currently in FTA discussions with Panama, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and others.

Mexico’s FTAs with Colombia, Peru and Brazil have been the focus of intense resistance from the farming and fishing sectors.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Presidencia de la Repúblida de México - CC BY 2.0


Mexico and the European Free Trade Association to update free trade agreement
The document, signed by the parties, establishes the terms for the negotiations to update and expand the FTA between Mexico and the EFTA.
Challenges and opportunities for EU-Mexico trade relations
In early May, the Brussels think tank CEPS and the Spanish bank BBVA organised a meeting between high-level representatives from the EU and Mexico aiming to review the EU-Mexico trade relationship
Europe, Mexico to seek new trade pact to deepen North American ties
The European Union and Mexico will launch negotiations towards a new free-trade agreement later this year, as Europe seeks to tie its economy closer to North America following a deal with Canada and efforts to sign an accord with the United States.
EU-Mexico free trade agreement to be upgraded
The European Union and Mexico announced the joint intention to upgrade the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement.
Mexican Senate proposes FTA with Cuba
Mexico’s Senate has urged the Government to boost economic relations with Cuba, with a view to the possible signing of a free trade agreement (FTA).
Mexico: FTA’s only help the large poultry producer
The free trade agreements signed by the Mexican government may have advantages for large Mexican companies but create problems for hundreds of poultry farmers in the country.
Mexico, Panama finish free-trade talks
Mexian President Enrique Peña Nieto called the trade pact "another significant step toward Panama’s future participation in the Pacific Alliance, an inclusion which Mexico supports." The Pacific Alliance is a trade bloc that includes Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru.
Turkey ‘ready’ for free trade deal with Mexico, minister says
Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan has said Turkey is ready to sign a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with Mexico.
Mexican and EU lawmakers say free trade deal needs overhaul
European Parliament members and Mexican federal lawmakers wrapped up their joint meeting and called for "far-ranging modifications" to the trade agreement signed in 1997 and implemented in 2000.
Mexico envisions Nafta-EU trade agreement, foreign minister says
Mexico envisions a trade deal tying it to the European Union, US and Canada as the future of transatlantic commerce and would welcome joining talks between the US and EU, Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade said.