He Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrardrequested a license from the President Claudia Sheinbaum for a trip to japan which he had already planned, as reported.
In your program, Ciro Gómez Leyva reported that the department’s communication area reported that Secretary Marcelo Ebrard left the country.
In addition, he indicated that the former Mexican foreign minister requested without pay for a trip to Japan prior to an extensive review of the Trade Agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC).
Images circulated on social networks in which Ebrard is seen together with his wife, Rosalinda Bueso, in a park in Japan.
The social communication area of @SE_mx informed #In the morning that the secretary @m_ebrard is in Japan. Prior to a long review of the TMEC, he requested leave without pay, it was a planned trip, with permission and knowledge of the president. @Claudiashein.
— Ciro Gómez Leyva (@CiroGomezL) October 23, 2024
Marcelo Ebrard assumed as Secretary of Economy on October 1, after having served as chancellor of Mexico during the six-year term by Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
What has Ebrard done as Secretary of Economy?
Marcelo Ebrard had a meeting on October 18 with businessmen from India in which they announced projects of investment in Mexico: biotechnology, medicines, batteries and electric vehicles, lithium refining and exports to the United States.
Previously, he participated in the meeting with United States businessmen together with President Claudia Sheinbaum, in which they announced an investment of 20 billion dollars by 2025.
Ebrard described the bilateral meeting with businessmen in both countries as very positive and pointed out that the investment amounts confirmed for 2025 by the companies gathered amount to more than 20 billion dollars.
He detailed that México Pacific announced investments starting in 2025 for 15 billion dollars, while the energy company Woodside Energy ratified a capital injection for 10.4 billion dollars, to develop a fuel depot with the help of Mexican Petroleum (Pemex).
In addition, he specified that the Royal Caribbean company announced a commitment of 1.5 billion dollars, a project that he detailed will be developed in the first tourism development corridor focused on the arrival of tourists to Mexico by sea in the southern region of Quintana Roo.
What will happen to the T-MEC?
The Marcelo Ebrard’s license request arrives within the framework of the T-MEC review which has to be renewed in 2026.
The review of the treaty, or even a deeper renegotiation, would be a crucial test of the relationship between Washington and Mexico City, which is going through new turbulence due to judicial reform, which stipulates the popular election of judges and which has worried American businessmen. .
In 2023, Mexico became the largest trading partner of the United States, by surpassing China, which explains the importance of T-MEC for both countries.
However, in recent days, the Republican presidential candidate of the United States, former President Donald Trump (2017-2021), threatened to impose tariffs on Chinese vehicles produced in Mexico.
However, the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, pointed out that there is no Chinese plant in the country that is producing vehicles.