President Joe Biden appears to be receiving less respect from an increasing number of foreign leaders, including our Mexican neighbor.
On Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden threatened to take trade-related measures that could result in the imposition of taxes on select Mexican commodities, but President Andrés Manuel López Obrador laughed it off.
When asked about potential Biden administration retaliation for suspected favoritism of Mexican national energy giants CFE and Pemex, Obrador reportedly responded sarcastically, “Ooooh, I’m so terrified…,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
Added by The Daily Caller
The United States has requested dispute settlement consultations with Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which could result in penalties being placed on some Mexican exports if the two sides are unable to reach an agreement. Obrador made the remarks on the same day that Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative, made the announcement.
According to Ambassador Katherine Tai, “We have consistently expressed severe concerns about a number of changes in Mexico’s energy policies and their compatibility with Mexico’s commitments under the USMCA.” “These regulatory changes have an adverse effect on U.S. economic interests across a number of industries and deter investments from clean energy producers and businesses looking to source dependable, clean energy.
“We have made an effort to cooperate constructively with the Mexican government to address these issues, but sadly, unjust treatment of American businesses in Mexico persists. Through these conversations, we’ll try to cooperate with the Mexican government to allay these worries and boost North American competitiveness, Tai said.
After Canada, Mexico is the US’s second-largest trading partner. The Daily Caller said that despite this, Biden and Obrador have been increasingly at differences over the past few months on trade, energy, and other topics.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which then-President Donald Trump said throughout his 2016 campaign was unfair to the United States, was renegotiated during his administration. According to reports, the new accord, known as the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, or USMCA, was better for American businesses and American industry.
The Biden administration claims that Obrador, who took office in 2018, is favoring his nation’s national energy firms in contravention of the new agreement on matters like pricing, contract terms, and emissions standards in an effort to increase Mexico’s energy independence, according to The New York Times.
In accordance with a statement from the office of the U.S. Trade Representative:
Mexico’s policies, which include considerable moves to pull back reforms the country previously took to meet its climate objectives under the Paris Agreement, have largely cut off U.S. and other investment in the country’s clean energy infrastructure. Changes in Mexican policy pose a danger to the market for private energy innovation. Current and future supply chains require clean, dependable, and inexpensive energy to achieve our shared regional economic and development goals as well as climate goals.
The United States is specifically contesting a 2021 amendment to Mexico’s Electric Power Industry Law that gives preference to electricity produced by CFE over electricity produced by all private rivals; Mexico’s inaction; delays, denials, and revocations of private companies’ permission to operate in Mexico’s energy sector; and a December 2019 regulation that only gives PEMEX an extension to comply with the maximum sulfur content requirements under Mexico’s applicable automotive regulations. These actions seem to be at odds with some of Mexico’s USMCA commitments, including those made under the chapters on market access, investment, and state-owned enterprises.
The Canadian government has grievances with Mexico as well.
“Canada has repeatedly expressed its worries about Mexico’s adjustment to its energy policy. We concur with the US that Mexico’s responsibilities are violated by these practices, a Canadian government spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal.
The Mexican Economic Ministry has been less mocking despite Obrador’s mockery of Biden, according to the WSJ, and issued a statement on Wednesday that read: “The Government of Mexico emphasizes its readiness to establish a mutually suitable settlement throughout the consultation phase.”
Pinocchio our fake president should be held for Treason
There’s not one single leader of these other countries that respect dumb ass Biden That’s because they know he is a fake president noone respects him or his family the whole Biden family is a disgrace to the human race I can’t wait until it all comes to ahead and we know the truth about everything At least when trump was in there He did his job and did it right Dumbass Biden goes in there 1st day looked like a little kid with a coloring book signing all these executive orders eliminating everything trump has built It all worked when trump was in Look at Biden Everything he touches turns to shit But what do you expect from a fake president a fake doctor and a crackhead son total disgrace
Our congress is just mad because they cant launder millions of dollars down in Mexico now by pretending to support their green energy deals. Mexico knows the Green deal is a load of crap and like most European countries are already transitioning back to tried and true coal production. If they did any reseach they would know 1 volcaniic eruption puts more sulphur and pollutants into the air than all the automobiles and industry for a year.