bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

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


Turkey, Mexico begin free trade deal talks: Trade body
Turkey’s Trade Ministry plans to visit Mexico in fall with larger business delegation.
Tosepan: Resistance and renewal in Mexico
Mexico has signed 12 free trade agreements with 44 nations and 28 bilateral investment treaties. The grim consequences of globalization in Mexico are by now familiar and yet, throughout Mexico, there is a florescence of inspiring resistance and alternatives.
Mexico adds rule of origin exception into Colombia FTA
Mexico has implemented a temporary exception to the rules of origin for textiles and apparel in its free trade agreement with Colombia.
Mexico’s landslide election: A labor perspective
Trade justice alliance webinar on Sunday 15 July
Mexico turns trade attention to Japan with Nafta talks at risk
Economy minister in Tokyo this week for conferences, meetings. Nafta uncertainty rising after Trump, Trudeau clashed.
Mexico wins ‘cheese war’ over Europe in trade deal
Europe did not gain exclusive rights for Spain’s La Mancha farmers to use Manchego, which has protected geographical status in the EU.
EU’s new trade deal with Mexico promotes CETA-style investors’ rights while ignoring human rights violations by multinationals
A key feature of the “modernisation” process is the inclusion of a controversial investment protection chapter with the same characteristics as the one recently included in the Canada-EU trade agreement.
EU, Mexico reach ‘agreement in principle’ on free trade deal
The EU and Mexico have reached an “agreement in principle” to modernise an existing free trade deal, as the Latin American country faces pressure from protectionist measures threatened by US President Donald Trump.
Mexico pushes to finish trade deal with EU this month
EU is biggest buyer of Mexican goods following US, Canada. Negotiators are said to aim for announcement during Pena trip.
Mexico looks to boost trade with China as NAFTA talks falter
A potential free-trade agreement with China could weaken Mexico’s environmental standards.