USMCA Will Help Mexican Workers / New Tour in Violent States

USMCA will raise wages for Mexican workers. President López Obrador said the new USMCA trade treaty will improve wages for Mexican workers, besides providing more opportunities for a younger workforce. “Compared to the United States and Canada, the Mexican workforce is younger and one of the best in the world. I believe that this is the main contribution of the treaty: young, well-qualified, responsible labor,” he said.

New tour in violent states.  President López Obrador said this week he will tour Guanajuato, Jalisco and Colima. “I’m going to these states because they are the most difficult in terms of violence and homicides. I will support people with my presence,” he said. The tour will include a visit to the Manzanillo port, which is an entry point for synthetic drugs. The president once again acknowledged that his administration hasn’t been able to control crime and corruption at customs and ports facilities, where even fuel is being smuggled.

Won’t fall for provocations on Trump. After being asked about US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he is building another 724 km of border wall, President López Obrador said he would not fall for the provocation and start a confrontation. “I want a friendly relationship with the United States government because this is convenient for Mexicans. My adversaries want something else. They want us to fight,” he said. The president also said that the Trump’s reelection campaign using his speech at the White House last week has no implications for Mexico.

COVID-19 infections are decreasing. President López Obrador endorsed Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell and said there is a campaign against him. “They want Dr. López-Gatell to stop reporting on the pandemic so they can flood the public with false news. The fact is that the pandemic is losing strength,” he said. The president said he will ask López-Gatell for a comprehensive report on the status of the pandemic in all 32 states.

US$120 million offer for the presidential plane. Banobras head Jorge Mendoza said a US$120 million offer for the presidential plane was formalized in April, with part of the payment offered in cash and the rest in medical equipment. Mendoza gave no details on the bid given confidentiality requirements. The National Lottery (Lotenal) reported that to date, 22.58 percent of tickets for the so called “raffle” of the plane have been sold, representing almost 1.3 million tickets of the 6 million available. The lottery will be held on Sept. 15.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish