Mexico seeks combined FTA with Central American countries
Xinhua 2008-06-28
Mexico seeks combined FTA with Central American countries
MEXICO CITY, June 27 (Xinhua) — Mexico has begun negotiations with several Central American countries to merge its three individual Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with them into a single one, Mexican Economy Minister Eduardo Sojo said here Friday.
Mexico will promote regional integration with Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, which is expected to facilitate trade by harmonizing rules and different procedures, and also reduce operation costs, said Sojo.
Mexico signed FTAs with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and the Northern Triangle nations (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) in 1995, 1998 and 2001 respectively .
Speaking at a business forum titled "Opportunities for Investment and Challenges to Competitiveness in the Mesoamerican Region" Sojo said such integration will help these nations withstand the growing competence of other regions.
The proposed comprehensive FTA seeks to include Belize, Panama and the Dominican Republic as well, thereby completing the Mesoamerican bloc, he added.
