LatinNews Daily - 27 April 2020

Mexico: On 20 April US Undersecretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord said that the US aviation supply chain is being affected by the closure of Mexico’s industrial factories due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The Mexican government has ordered the suspension of all non-essential economic activity as part of its efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19 until 30 May. But on 7 April the Mexican federation of aerospace industries (Femia) requested that the aerospace and defence sector be classified as an essential service, to match the US and Canada and prevent the disruption of supply chains across North America. Lord raised the issue with the US Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau; and also wrote a letter to Mexico’s foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, to ask that he “help reopen international suppliers”. On 21 April, Landau tweeted that he is “doing everything that he can to save the supply chains that have been created over the last decades. It is possible and essential to care for workers’ health without destroying these chains. The economic integration of North America requires coordination”. Landau’s tweet sparked controversy for seemingly prioritising the economy over workers’ health, to which Landau responded that “the problem is that you won’t have ‘workers’ if all the businesses close and they go elsewhere”. Lord confirmed that the US defence department is already asking for “billions and billions” of US dollars to reimburse contractors for coronavirus-related delays or facility closures, amongst other costs.

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