Israel and Mexico Sign Free Trade Agreement

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AP

(fair use blah blah posted 16:55 MST 2000/03/06)

"Mar 6, 2000 - 04:23 PM

Israel and Mexico Sign Free Trade Agreement By Jack Katzenell Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel and Mexico signed a free trade agreement Monday that will abolish protective tariffs between the two countries by 2005.

The accord, similar to Mexico's free trade agreement with the United States, was signed in the presence of Israeli President Ezer Weizman and his Mexican counterpart, Ernesto Zedillo, who is on a three-day visit to Israel.

Israeli Trade and Industry Minister Ran Cohen said the pact would "increase bilateral trade by tens of millions of dollars," would enable Israeli exporters to compete with U.S. products in Mexico, and would advance joint projects in communications, agriculture, infrastructure and other fields, according to a statement from his office. Cohen is currently visiting China.

The agreement is to begin to take effect in July, and by 2005 should all but abolish tariffs on goods traded between the two countries.

Zedillo said it would open opportunities and strengthen understanding between Israel and Mexico.

Israel's exports to Mexico in 1999 totaled $130 million, while Mexico exported only $38 million to Israel last year.

Israel's exports are mostly high-tech and include medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and agricultural supplies. The main Mexican export to Israel is oil.

The accord was signed by Mexican Commerce and Industrial Development Minister Blanco Mendoza and Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy.

Zedillo, who arrived late Saturday, met with Levy and Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Monday after touring religious and historic sites on Sunday, including Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.

He was to fly home Tuesday after laying a wreath in the Tel Aviv square where Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995."

-- firefly (
forest@calm.dot), March 06, 2000

Answers

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-- semper paratus (back_here_with@my.pals), March 06, 2000.

Thanks, semper. An emoticon floated by just as I was about to close the link.

-- firefly (forest@uncalm.dot), March 07, 2000.

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