There were recent signals of Mexico taking steps to protect its textile industry as Mr Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, President, said that the producers had been left ‘defenceless’ by earlier governments. The government earlier reduced tariffs for textile and footwear imports from nations with which Mexico has no trade agreements. Mr Obrador indicated a U-turn on those moves.
Global newswires quoted Mr Obrador as saying, “We’ll review this case, always thinking about protecting national industry.”
Mr Obrador dubs the administrations that ruled Mexico from the early 1980s onwards as “neo-liberal.”
The National Footwear Industry Association welcomed the president’s statements.
The government is reviewing ‘alternative measures’ to support the industries following meetings with representatives from the steel, textile and footwear sectors.
