The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, pledged to accommodate Canadian energy and mining companies that may have “ongoing problems” with the Mexican government to develop their activities in the country.
“I have made a commitment with Prime Minister Trudeau to receive companies that may have problems or disagree with our government’s stance. We are always open to dialogue,” the Mexican president said at the Mexico-Canada bilateral meeting held as part of the 10th Summit of North American Leaders.
The statements of the Mexican president arose after the request the day before from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling on the Mexican government to open up investments in strategic minerals to the private sector, at a private meeting he held with members of the North American business community organized by the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), the American Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Canada.
Meeting with the private sector, Trudeau assured that Canada is a reliable partner, and offered to operate mining companies in that country to make the most of critical minerals leading to the development of electric cars, such as lithium, and generate jobs for citizens.
“The electric cars that citizens want to drive use critical minerals, and Canada released the critical materials to see the opportunity we had and be a leader in the transition to a clean energy economy,” he told the meeting.
In addition, in 2021, the president of Mexico opened a front demanding that Canadian miners First Majestic Silver Corp and Americas Gold and Silver that they pay the taxes that correspond to them in the country, and to respect workers’ union rights.
However, at this Wednesday’s meeting So assured the Mexican president Economic issues related to investments by Canadian companies have already been discussed, This includes major mining and energy companies such as TransCanada, which is investing in building a gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico.
“We are trying to solve problems and differences that naturally arise when it comes to these economic and trade relations, and also during boom times, because Canadian investment in Mexico is booming, like never before,” concluded López Obrador.
