LatinNews Daily - 05 September 2022

* Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said he is “satisfied” with a letter he received from US President Joe Biden concerning consultations over Mexico’s energy policies. In July, both the US and Canada requested dispute settlement consultations under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on regional trade in relation to Mexico’s energy policy, which they argue sidelines foreign companies and disincentivises investment by clean-energy suppliers. At the time, López Obrador shrugged off the requests, stating his government would address concerns but insisting USMCA terms had not been violated. On 2 August, he sent a letter to Biden in which he stressed Mexico’s energy sovereignty while expressing his desire for a cooperative and respectful bilateral relationship. In Biden’s reply, the US president expressed his “deepest respect for … the independence and sovereignty of Mexico”, which López Obrador said proved Biden was “not only my friend, but a friend of Mexico”. The Mexican, US and Canadian governments have 75 days since the consultation requests were filed to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. Failing this, a dispute settlement panel will be established. López Obrador and Mexico’s foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, have both stated they hope to reach a solution before the matter reaches a panel.

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