US congressmen alert Trump that AMLO’s energy policy violates the USMCA trade agreement

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“We are deeply concerned that these actions show a pattern of obstruction and we urge you to find a resolution with the Government of Mexico,” lawmakers told Trump.

Democratic and Republican members of the United States Congress sent a letter to President Donald Trump, warning him that Mexico is giving preferential regulatory treatment to state companies Pemex and CFE, while North American companies face obstacles to their investments and to obtaining permits. something that, they consider, would be violating the spirit of the new USMCA (T-MEC) trade agreement.

” We are deeply concerned that these actions show a pattern of obstruction and we urge you to find a resolution with the Government of Mexico to maintain the current market conditions provided by the regulatory framework of the Energy Reform,” says the letter dated October 22 signed by more than 40 legislators.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has repeatedly criticized the energy reform approved during Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration and said that his priority is to strengthen Petróleos Mexicanos and the Federal Electricity Commission with the current regulatory framework but, if he does not succeed, He does not rule out reversing the constitutional changes in the second part of his term.

In the letter, the congressmen affirmed that, after the 2014 reforms, American companies invested billions of dollars to develop energy infrastructure in Mexico and the United States to import fuel from refineries to meet Mexican demand, but the authorities have gone delaying or canceling absolute permits for North American energy companies.

“These anecdotal experiences have recently received additional credit for a leaked memorandum from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, ordering Mexican authorities to use all available resources within the regulatory framework to protect Pemex and CFE, ” he added

Previously, US and Canadian firms have also complained about the alleged unequal treatment received in Mexico since the entry of the new administration. Five US energy industry officials, lawyers, and sources told Reuters investors have already started litigation and others will sue Mexico after the November 3 US election.

“This indicates that, whoever wins the US presidency, after the elections it will be an issue on the agenda that will be taken up immediately,” said Ramses Pech, an energy sector specialist.

Source: altonivel.com.mx

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