Mexican Senate calls for free-trade agreement with Cuba

Mexican Senate calls for free-trade agreement with Cuba
Indo Asian News Service
IANS
January 6, 2016

Mexico city, Jan 6 (IANS) The Mexican Senate urged the government to
expand economic ties with Cuba, including through signing of a
free-trade agreement.

In a press release on Tuesday, the Senate prodded the foreign affairs
ministry into creating a dialogue with Cuba, discussing topics ranging
from a free-trade agreement, immigration, investment, oil and gas
exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, to collaboration in science and
technology, Xinhua reported.

The Senate insisted that bilateral commercial ties "are growing ever
stronger, and a free-trade agreement would facilitate the exchange of
goods and services and the removal of duties to ensure larger commerce
between both nations."

Furthermore, the Senate was seeking to follow up on agreements signed
between Mexico's Congress and Cuba's National Assembly in June 2015,
covering matters related to energy, healthcare, education, the
environment and tourism.

Last November, Cuban President Raul Castro officially visited Mexico,
where he signed a number of agreements with President Enrique Peña
Nieto, involving immigration, academic exchanges, tourism and agriculture.

While Cuba is only Mexico's 57th commercial partner, Mexico is the
sixth-largest supplier to Cuba.

According to official statistics, Mexico's exports to Cuba were worth
$362.2 million in 2015, but its imports from Cuba stood at $11.6 million.

Source: Mexican Senate calls for free-trade agreement with Cuba -
https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/mexican-senate-calls-free-trade-agreement-cuba-032620002.html