MEXICO CITY, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Mexican agricultural sector would benefit from the upcoming North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations, Mexican Agriculture Secretary Jose Calzada said on Monday.
Speaking at an event in Mexico City, Calzada said the competitiveness and prestige of Mexican agricultural products would be considered in the negotiations.
Calzada said that Mexico now enjoys an agricultural trade surplus, as opposed to the deficit it faced in 1994, when NAFTA came into force with Canada and the Unite States.
Mexico's agricultural surplus with the United States stands at about 7 billion U.S. dollars, and 3 billion U.S. dollars with the rest of the world. Since 1994, the country has climbed from the 14th place to the 10th on the list of global food exporters.
"We have built up prestige in terms of food production in the world, and this must prevail," said Calzada.
According to the minister, he has held meetings with his American and Canadian counterparts.
The negotiating teams from all three countries will begin their first round of talks on Wednesday, after the United States released objectives for the renegotiation which aim to reduce its trade deficit.
