September 10, 2007

Mexican President Outlines Various Issues to Press

Presidency of the Republic

Sydney, Australia, September 8 – During a press conference at the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, Mexican President Felipe Calderón was asked about his position on the Doha Round negotiations. President Calderón said that Mexico is in favor of continuing the talks. Questioned about whether there had been any consensus on reducing agricultural subsidies by the United States, the president said that although the issue had been discussed, the US had not assumed any specific commitments.

On the subject of Mexican tax reform, the president explained that, “Before I started this trip, and in view of the constitutional obligation of submitting the budget, I consulted with the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit and signed the Expenditure Budget Proposal for 2008, on the grounds that the fiscal reform for those with least, the tax reform, might not have been passed, which, in fact, has turned out to be the case.”

The president went on to say that the areas in Mexico where he thinks most funds should be assigned are highway, port, airport and potable water infrastructure, as well as education, the Popular Insurance Scheme, and public firms such as PEMEX and the Federal Electricity Commission.

On the subject of efforts by television companies and the Federal Electoral Institute to sabotage electoral reform, the president said that he understood that the country's three main political parties, PAN, PRI and PRD, are currently discussing the issue, adding that he hoped Congress would be able to achieve a viable solution.

The president ended by saying that if the tax reform is not passed it will severely jeopardize the Infrastructure Program.

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(Press Release: Presidency of the Republic, September 9, 2007)

 

–  Presidency of the Republic translation