Mexican Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez says relations between his country and the Trump administration have improved substantially in the last few months, and that they are “in better shape now than earlier this year.”
“It’s no secret that we have had our share of difference with the Trump administration. Those differences are public, they’re known. What both sides have strived for is to find common ground within those differences,” Gutierrez said in an interview with The Hill.
“One of the positive things about what has been built over the past six to eight months is the fact that both sides believe the other guy is honestly trying to reach a deal on different aspects of the relationship,” Gutierrez noted, adding that there are “very clear red lines for both sides.”
According to Gutierrez, one of those issues where both sides have “very clear red lines” is the wall. “But once those red lines are clear, we understand better each other’s priorities, we do try to find common ground.” the ambassador underscored.
The Hill adds that another core Trump issue is immigration enforcement, a sensitivity for Mexico because roughly 5.6 million of its citizens are undocumented immigrants in the United States.
“It’s very clear for us being the Mexican government that it’s really up to the United States, its institutions and its people to determine what type of immigration system is best for the United States,” Gutiérrez said.
Trump rescinded a key immigration program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on Tuesday, sparking debate on how to deal with its nearly 800,000 recipients, 68 percent of whom are Mexican citizens. Under DACA, undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children were given work permits and deferral from deportation for two-year periods.
Mexico chose not to stay in the sidelines despite DACA being a domestic issue, Gutiérrez said, adding that the country has vowed to lobby Congress for passage of a bill enshrining into law the program’s benefits, while providing legal assistance to DACA recipients who wish to remain in the United States.
Gutiérrez said Mexico’s lobbying effort on DACA and other issues is “nothing new,” but the country’s Washington strategy has traditionally privileged engagement with the executive branch.
Regarding the other issues that the two countries have, Gutierrez admitted that the relationship faces pressing challenges, including the future of NAFTA. Negotiators finished the second round of talks in Mexico City Tuesday, and will reconvene in Ottawa on September 23.
Gutierrez recognized that negotiations on the more difficult issues had the potential to terminate the 25-year-old trade deal.
“Are we ready to live without NAFTA? Yes, we are. Do we think that’s the best option? Not necessarily.” he noted.
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