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  1. Negotiations

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

Treaty tolls death knell for Mexican countryside
23-Oct-2012 IPS
The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations, which Mexico is to join in December, are threatening to eliminate the last defences of the country’s agricultural sector.
Permanent People’s Tribunal will session in Mexico
9-May-2012 RMR
“Free trade, dirty war, impunity and peoples rights” is the title of the new national chapter of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) that aims to expose “structural violence” in Mexico as a result of the implementation of free trade agreements.
Mexico says ready to sign free trade agreement with Turkey
20-Apr-2012
Mexican Economy Minister Bruno Ferrari has said that his country was ready to sign a free trade agreement with Turkey.
Peru Free Trade Agreement ratified by Mexico’s senate
16-Dec-2011 PTW
The Peru-Mexico Free Trade Agreement was ratified on Thursday, after Mexico’s Senate had initially rejected it on Wednesday.
Mexico, Central America Sign Free Trade Agreement
23-Nov-2011
The governments of Mexico and five Central American countries signed in El Salvador a free trade agreement (FTA) that unifies the existing ties in one body.
Mexican ag, fishing interests call for halt to Peru trade deal
19-Jul-2011 EFE
Mexico’s agriculture and fishing industries called on the Senate Monday to hold off on ratifying the free trade agreement with Peru until a better deal can be negotiated.
Mexico declares progress in FTA talks with C. America
30-May-2011
Mexico said Sunday the fifth round of negotiations for forming a single free trade agreement (FTA) with Central America ended with important progress on various issues.
Peru, Mexico sign trade deal
7-Apr-2011 EFE
Peru and Mexico on Wednesday here signed a trade agreement with the aim of jointly reaching out to Asia, an undertaking that they want Chile and Colombia to join.
Mexico on verge of ratifying expanded FTA with Colombia
4-Apr-2011 EFE
Mexico is close to ratifying an expanded free-trade deal with Colombia after three Senate committees gave the green light for the agreement, while progress is also being made in negotiations on a separate free-trade accord with Peru, Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari said.
Mexican opposition party to vote against FTA
14-Feb-2011 Fresh Fruit Portal
One of Mexico’s opposition parties, the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), has vowed to vote against a potential free trade agreement (FTA) with Peru, Colombia and Brazil on the grounds of food sovereignty, national public health, as well as food and plant sanitation.