Francisco Cervantes Reaffirms Commitment to Increase National Content
Francisco Cervantes, President of the Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE), has assured that Mexican companies will meet their target to increase national content without neglecting exports to North America.
Support for ‘Hecho en México’ Program
Cervantes emphasized the importance of the ‘Hecho en México’ (Made in Mexico) program to encourage consumption of locally manufactured products. However, he stressed the need to maintain regional production for North America.
“The retail and department stores are ready, that’s why they signed the agreement. There is ample capacity within the National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores (ANTAD),” Cervantes stated.
Mexican Products in US Markets
Cervantes noted that many ‘Hecho en México’ products are already on US supermarket shelves, with national brands that are leaders in the neighboring country.
“While promoting ‘Hecho en México’ is crucial and we celebrate it, we must not overlook regional production. We produce extensively for the US market, so balancing ‘Hecho en México’ and regional production is essential,” he explained.
New Industries in T-MEC Review
Cervantes also mentioned that the upcoming review of the Mexico-United States-Canada Agreement (T-MEC) should include two emerging industries since 2018: semiconductors and electromobility.
Impact of Gusano Barrenador on Mexican Agriculture
Regarding the suspension of Mexican cattle imports due to the gusano barrenador (grapevine borers), Cervantes acknowledged the impact on Mexico’s agricultural sector but expressed confidence in reaching an agreement with the US government.
He praised Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexico City mayor and head of the negotiation team, for her efforts in resolving disputes with US counterparts.
“There have been numerous challenges, including tariffs, security concerns, and the recent grapevine borers issue, as well as remittances. However, there has been excellent collaboration, and these challenges have been addressed in a short timeframe,” Cervantes said.
He highlighted that the business sector has maintained open communication with US counterparts to demonstrate the importance and benefits of the T-MEC, particularly in trade integration for manufacturing.
“Thanks to this trilateral agreement, we are leaders not only in the world’s most important and economically significant region but also in over 40 sectors where Mexico, the US, and Canada rank among the top 10,” Cervantes concluded.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main topic of this article? The Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE) President, Francisco Cervantes, discusses the commitment of Mexican companies to increase national content while maintaining regional production for North America.
- What is the ‘Hecho en México’ program? It’s a program that encourages consumption of locally manufactured products in Mexico, which Cervantes supports while emphasizing the importance of not neglecting regional production.
- What challenges does Mexico face regarding agriculture? The suspension of cattle imports due to the grapevine borers presents a challenge for Mexico’s agricultural sector. However, Cervantes is confident in reaching an agreement with the US government.
- What new industries are expected to be included in the T-MEC review? Semiconductors and electromobility are two emerging industries that Cervantes believes should be considered in the upcoming T-MEC review.
- How has Mexico’s relationship with the US been under Cervantes’ perspective? Despite challenges such as tariffs, security concerns, and remittances, Cervantes acknowledges the successful collaboration with US counterparts in addressing these issues.
