The Foreign Secretary and 22 legislators reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral relationship for growth and competitiveness in Arizona and Mexico, and Foreign Secretary Videgaray appreciated Arizona’s outspokenness in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), bilateral trade and investing in Mexico.
Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation and exploring new possibilities for bilateral collaboration. They highlighted the importance of making the border into an area of competitiveness and shared development for Mexico and the United States.
The Arizona lawmakers renewed their commitment to work together on migration, the workforce, border security and agriculture, and they expressed their thanks for the chance to open a dialogue to solve important problems for the border state of Arizona and its relationship with Mexico.
Lastly, Foreign Secretary Videgaray said that parliamentary diplomacy is a key part of strengthening the bilateral relationship. He thanked the Arizona legislators for their ongoing work with their Mexican counterparts, the federal government and the National Conference of Governors (CONAGO).
In 2016, bilateral trade between Mexico and Arizona totaled USD 15.7 billion. Worldwide, 37.6% of Arizona’s imports go to Mexico and more than 89,000 jobs depend on the state’s trade with Mexico.