By , , WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY/OTTAWA (Reuters) - A modernized U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact took effect on Wednesday, ensuring continuity for manufacturers and agriculture, but the threat of disputes is exposing cracks in what was meant to be a stronger North American fortress of competitiveness.As the deal kicks in, the Trump administration is threatening Canada with new aluminum tariffs, and a prominent Mexican labor activist has been jailed, underscoring concerns about crucial labor reforms in the replacement for the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.The U.S.-Mexico-Canada...…By , , WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY/OTTAWA (Reuters) - A modernized U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact took effect on Wednesday, ensuring continuity for manufacturers and agriculture, but the threat of disputes is exposing cracks in what was meant to be a stronger North American fortress of competitiveness.As the deal kicks in, the Trump administration is threatening Canada with new aluminum tariffs, and a prominent Mexican labor activist has been jailed, underscoring concerns about crucial labor reforms in the replacement for the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.The U.S.-Mexico-Canada...WW…

By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican security forces on Sunday captured Jose Antonio Yepez, a notorious drug gang leader and fuel thief blamed for fanning a sharp surge in violence that has severely tested the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Known as “El Marro” (The Mallet), Yepez was arrested in the early hours of Sunday by soldiers and state officials during a raid on a house in Guanajuato, a central state that has become the main flashpoint of record gang violence, authorities said.“This is a tremendously successful blow for the government,” said Raul Benitez, a...…By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican security forces on Sunday captured Jose Antonio Yepez, a notorious drug gang leader and fuel thief blamed for fanning a sharp surge in violence that has severely tested the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Known as “El Marro” (The Mallet), Yepez was arrested in the early hours of Sunday by soldiers and state officials during a raid on a house in Guanajuato, a central state that has become the main flashpoint of record gang violence, authorities said.“This is a tremendously successful blow for the government,” said Raul Benitez, a...WW…

By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The former boss of Mexican state oil firm Pemex, Emilio Lozoya, told a court on Tuesday he was innocent of graft charges and vowed to denounce those responsible for his alleged crimes, in a case that could seriously embarrass Mexico’s previous rulers.The trial of Lozoya is the highest-profile investigation so far in President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s campaign to root out corruption in Mexico, which he has characterized as the biggest malaise plaguing the country.The 45-year-old Lozoya, who was chief executive of Pemex - officially known as Petroleos Mexicanos...…By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The former boss of Mexican state oil firm Pemex, Emilio Lozoya, told a court on Tuesday he was innocent of graft charges and vowed to denounce those responsible for his alleged crimes, in a case that could seriously embarrass Mexico’s previous rulers.The trial of Lozoya is the highest-profile investigation so far in President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s campaign to root out corruption in Mexico, which he has characterized as the biggest malaise plaguing the country.The 45-year-old Lozoya, who was chief executive of Pemex - officially known as Petroleos Mexicanos...WW…

By , WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would help Mexico contribute to global oil output reductions, in a surprise move that could break an impasse among the world’s major oil producers over cutbacks aimed at stabilizing crude prices.The U.S. reductions will amount to 250,000 barrels per day, according to Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Speaking in Washington, Trump said the cuts would depend on the approval of other oil-producing nations.“The United States will help Mexico along and they’ll reimburse us sometime at a...…By , WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would help Mexico contribute to global oil output reductions, in a surprise move that could break an impasse among the world’s major oil producers over cutbacks aimed at stabilizing crude prices.The U.S. reductions will amount to 250,000 barrels per day, according to Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Speaking in Washington, Trump said the cuts would depend on the approval of other oil-producing nations.“The United States will help Mexico along and they’ll reimburse us sometime at a...WW…

By , , MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico is preparing to significantly reinforce efforts to detain U.S.-bound migrants who illegally cross its border with Guatemala, in response to a jump in people trying to enter the United States, according to four people familiar with the matter.The U.S. government said this week it is facing the highest number of migrants reaching its border with Mexico in 20 years, presenting authorities a major challenge and sparking concerns inside the Mexican government.The people familiar with the plan said Mexico would deploy security forces to cut the flow of...…By , , MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico is preparing to significantly reinforce efforts to detain U.S.-bound migrants who illegally cross its border with Guatemala, in response to a jump in people trying to enter the United States, according to four people familiar with the matter.The U.S. government said this week it is facing the highest number of migrants reaching its border with Mexico in 20 years, presenting authorities a major challenge and sparking concerns inside the Mexican government.The people familiar with the plan said Mexico would deploy security forces to cut the flow of...WW…

By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico’s government is worried the new U.S. administration’s asylum policies are stoking illegal immigration and creating business for organized crime, according to officials and internal assessments seen by Reuters.Ever since President Joe Biden won the White House vowing to undo the hardline approach of his predecessor Donald Trump, Mexico has both looked forward to an end to migration burdens imposed by Trump, and braced for a new influx of people.Detentions on the U.S border have surged since Biden took office on Jan. 20. Mexico has urged Washington to help...…By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico’s government is worried the new U.S. administration’s asylum policies are stoking illegal immigration and creating business for organized crime, according to officials and internal assessments seen by Reuters.Ever since President Joe Biden won the White House vowing to undo the hardline approach of his predecessor Donald Trump, Mexico has both looked forward to an end to migration burdens imposed by Trump, and braced for a new influx of people.Detentions on the U.S border have surged since Biden took office on Jan. 20. Mexico has urged Washington to help...WW…

By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico’s government is worried the new U.S. administration’s asylum policies are stoking illegal immigration and creating business for organized crime, according to officials and internal assessments seen by Reuters.Ever since President Joe Biden won the White House vowing to undo the hardline approach of his predecessor Donald Trump, Mexico has both looked forward to an end to migration burdens imposed by Trump, and braced for a new influx of people.Detentions on the U.S border have surged since Biden took office on Jan. 20. Mexico has urged Washington to help...…By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico’s government is worried the new U.S. administration’s asylum policies are stoking illegal immigration and creating business for organized crime, according to officials and internal assessments seen by Reuters.Ever since President Joe Biden won the White House vowing to undo the hardline approach of his predecessor Donald Trump, Mexico has both looked forward to an end to migration burdens imposed by Trump, and braced for a new influx of people.Detentions on the U.S border have surged since Biden took office on Jan. 20. Mexico has urged Washington to help...WW…

By , WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Monday downplayed the prospect of sharing coronavirus vaccines with Mexico, saying it is focused first on getting its own population protected against a pandemic that has killed more than 500,000 Americans.The remarks by White House press secretary Jen Psaki came before a video conference between Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and U.S. President Joe Biden, in which the Mexican leader was expected to ask the United States to consider sharing some of its COVID-19 vaccine supply.“The administration’s focus is on...…By , WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Monday downplayed the prospect of sharing coronavirus vaccines with Mexico, saying it is focused first on getting its own population protected against a pandemic that has killed more than 500,000 Americans.The remarks by White House press secretary Jen Psaki came before a video conference between Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and U.S. President Joe Biden, in which the Mexican leader was expected to ask the United States to consider sharing some of its COVID-19 vaccine supply.“The administration’s focus is on...WW…

By , , WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is expected to ask President Joe Biden to consider sharing part of the U.S. coronavirus vaccine supply with its poorer southern neighbor when the two leaders hold a virtual summit on Monday, U.S. and Mexican officials said.Biden is open to discussing the matter as part of a broader regional effort to cooperate in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic but will maintain as his “number one priority” the need to first vaccinate as many Americans as possible, a White House official told Reuters on condition...…By , , WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is expected to ask President Joe Biden to consider sharing part of the U.S. coronavirus vaccine supply with its poorer southern neighbor when the two leaders hold a virtual summit on Monday, U.S. and Mexican officials said.Biden is open to discussing the matter as part of a broader regional effort to cooperate in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic but will maintain as his “number one priority” the need to first vaccinate as many Americans as possible, a White House official told Reuters on condition...WW…

By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico’s president on Thursday blasted social media companies for blocking the accounts of President Donald Trump for his part in chaotic scenes in Washington on Wednesday, again appearing to cleave to his U.S. counterpart in a contentious dispute.Four people died during the havoc that erupted after pro-Trump protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to force Congress to block the appointment of President-elect Joe Biden, whose Nov. 3 election victory Trump has cast as fraudulent.Many U.S. allies condemned the events at the Capitol, which Biden said bordered on...…By MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico’s president on Thursday blasted social media companies for blocking the accounts of President Donald Trump for his part in chaotic scenes in Washington on Wednesday, again appearing to cleave to his U.S. counterpart in a contentious dispute.Four people died during the havoc that erupted after pro-Trump protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to force Congress to block the appointment of President-elect Joe Biden, whose Nov. 3 election victory Trump has cast as fraudulent.Many U.S. allies condemned the events at the Capitol, which Biden said bordered on...WW…