Mexico City, Mexico — President Andrés Manuel López Obrador says Mexico’s “relationship with Canada will continue” after the imposition of the new visa regulations to enter the country.
In his Friday press conference, López Obrador admitted that the imposition of visas was a unilateral decision. Despite the new visa requirements, the Mexico-Canada relationship will continue for the benefit of both peoples, he said.
“We cannot break relations with Canada or with other governments because the economic exchange is very good, Mexican workers have been going to Canada for a long time, so we have to act with prudence, with serenity.
“If anything, a small, fraternal, respectful reproach to the Prime Minister because we helped them—and he knows it—so that it was accepted for Canada to participate in the Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) because President Trump did not want it due to differences which are natural in politics,” he said.
The president ruled out that there is a problem between nations after the unilateral decision of the Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, regarding requesting visas from Mexicans.
“It is a modality, they tell me, where it can only affect 40 percent of those who go to Canada. It’s good that they moderated. In any case we consider that they could have looked for other options, other alternatives, however, they made that decision.
“We respect what other governments decide because they are independent, free, sovereign governments and we are going to look for options, alternatives,” he explained.
“To be clear, there is no problem with the people or the government of Canada, no problem. (…) Our respect to Mr. Trudeau and even more to the people of Canada. Love and peace,” he added.