Secretary of State Visits Mexico to Head the HLED

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Mexico to meet with President López Obrador as part of the High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED). The Secretary of State's trip to Mexico adds to multiple visits by high-level US officials to advance the North American agenda amid tensions regarding López Obrador's energy policy.

Antony Blinken arrived in Mexico City on the eve of the national holidays on Monday, September 12, to meet with President López Obrador and spearhead the US-Mexico HLED. 

The HLED is a mechanism to strengthen the bilateral relationship at the highest level between Mexico and the US. It was suspended during the Trump administration and was recently reactivated by President Joe Biden. "Last year, our two presidents agreed to relaunch the high-level economic dialogue. They recognized together that a strong US-Mexico relationship was vital," said Blinken during his visit.

After arriving in Mexico City, Blinken and the US delegation headed to lunch with Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, where talks for the second annual HLED meeting began.

Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the topics discussed during the lunch included economic integration and cooperation, migration and multilateralism amid the upcoming UN General Assembly, as well as the security agenda, with emphasis on arms trafficking and the fight against fentanyl.

During the lunch, Blinken expressed "continued appreciation" for Mexico's cooperation on several issues of mutual interest, such as "shared economic interests, combating fentanyl trafficking and cooperation to create a more effective United Nations," said US spokesman Ned Price.

Following lunch, the US delegation headed to the National Palace to meet with President López Obrador. Brian Nichols, US Undersecretary for Latin America, commented in a telephone press conference that the meeting was proposed by López Obrador himself and will serve to "strengthen the close relationship" between both governments.

The meeting at the National Palace was also attended by Gina Raimondo, the US Secretary of Commerce. The US delegation also included Deputy Trade Representative Jayme White, Undersecretary of Energy and Environment, José Fernández and Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Meanwhile, the Mexican delegation that accompanied the president included Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, Tatiana Clouthier, Minister of Economy and Adán Augusto López, Minister of the Interior.

At the end of the meeting, President López Obrador reported "a productive and friendly meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo."

Later on, Minister Marcelo Ebrard highlighted that the meeting between Blinken and López Obrador was "very good and cordial."

Upon his departure from the National Palace, Ebrard announced that the US had invited Mexico to join its new investment package to boost semiconductor production and electromobility in North America.

Likewise, Ebrard pointed out that they discussed the next Security Dialogue, to be held in Washington DC in October, as well as the future North American Leaders' Summit scheduled for December.

Regarding the energy controversy, Ebrard pointed out that it will be resolved through the procedure established in the free trade agreement. He also pointed out that the issue represented only 5 percent of the conversation between the Secretary of State and the President.

Blinken's visit comes amid tensions concerning energy issues between the North American partners. In September, the USMCA-based consultation period for the issues between Mexico and its trade partners will expire. Therefore, if the US and Canadian governments fail to reach a satisfactory agreement with Mexico, the country will be taken to an international arbitration panel under the USMCA framework.

Before the HLED visit, President López Obrador indicated that he would share his position regarding the energy consultations during the Independence Day military parade. However, on the morning of September 12, the president announced in his daily press conference that the differences with the US on energy issues will not be part of his speech on September 16.

The reason, explained the President, is due to a change in tone in the US position expressed by President Joe Biden through a letter sent directly to López Obrador. "There is a different tone. There is a respectful attitude. Rather, it is a reaffirmation of respect for our national sovereignty," said the president. 

Antony Blinken joins high-level US government officials who visited Mexico in 2022 intending to resolve disagreements with Mexico on key issues for the US political agenda.