The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, have agreed to accelerate negotiations to modernize the trade and cooperation agreement that both parties have had since 2000 and to finalize the process this year. Both leaders agree on the importance of the proposed Modernized Global Agreement and have expressed their desire to accelerate negotiations with the goal of concluding the agreement before the end of the year.
The updated treaty aims to develop a deeper political and trade partnership between the European Union and Mexico, which is the bloc’s second-largest trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean. Von der Leyen’s visit to Mexico marks a milestone, as it is the first time in 11 years that a European Commission president has visited the country. It also highlights the EU’s role as the second-largest foreign investor in Mexico.
During the private meeting between Von der Leyen and López Obrador, the need to accelerate the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the European Union was discussed. Lopez Obrador praised Von der Leyen as an intelligent and personable woman, and both leaders identified Mexico as a strategic energy, industrial, and logistics hub to supply the North American and European markets. They also discussed the opportunities offered by the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, a massive investment program aimed at combating climate change.
Von der Leyen’s visit to Mexico is part of a Latin American tour that has also taken her to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. During this tour, discussions have been held on possible agreements for the development of lithium and cooperation in the production of green hydrogen. The overall objective of this tour is to strengthen partnerships between the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries ahead of the summit to be held in July.