The US Secretary of Commerce

US Trade Secretary Wilbur Ross warned today that the breakdown of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would be a particularly "devastating" event for Mexico, The time he said that the goal is to agree on a new pact for "March" of 2018.

Washington, November 14 (EFE) .- The US Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, warned today that the breakdown of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would be an especially "devastating" for Mexico, while affirming that the objective is to agree on a new pact for "March" of 2018.

"The goal is to have it done by March," said Ross during his participation at a business conference, organized by The Wall Street Journal in Washington, on the renegotiation of the trade pact between the US, Mexico and Canada in effect from 1994.

In spite of the doubts generated after the little advances in the last round of October, and the repeated threats of the American president, Donald Trump, to get out of the NAFTA if it is not remodeled, the Commerce Secretary insisted that the US prefers that Canada and Mexico "come to their senses" and accept a new pact.

The end of NAFTA "would be much more damaging to them. that for us, "warned Ross, who reiterated that for the US" not achieving an agreement is better than a bad agreement. "

" For Mexico it would be especially devastating, it would be a big problem ", assured when referring to the great dependence of the US market that Mexican exports have, since it represents about 80% of the total.

The words of the owner of Commerce they take place just a few days before the fifth round of NAFTA talks begins in Mexico, where they will take place from November 17 to 21.

In the last meeting, in October in Washington, the chief negotiator of the United States, Robert Lighthizer, pointed out that little progress had been made and criticized the "intransigence" on the part of Canada and Mexico to renounce "advantages". unfair. "

In a serious tone, the Mexican economy secretary, Ildefonso Guajardo, replied that where Washington finds" intransigence "they see" good sense ".

Among the demands of Washington stands out the one to increase the quota of manufactured products in the USA, especially in the automobile sector and one of the key pieces of the commercial pact; that it would oblige to revise the treaty every five years and would cause it to be suspended if any of its three members did not agree to extend it.