Business

Breakthrough for New Free Trade Agreement

"Mexicans and Germans appreciate how important it is to view the world," said Angela Merkel

April 23rd, 2018
Berlin Global, News from Berlin
20180423_Breakthrough for New Free Trade.jpg

The Hannover Messe trade fair has begun with a call for free world trade. Shortly before the start of the world’s leading industrial showcase, the EU and Mexico agreed on a new free trade agreement. Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed this as "good news for Germany, the EU and Mexico". Mexico is this year’s partner country of the Hannover Messe trade fair.

Chancellor Angela Merkel thanked the European Commission for its success in "achieving the agreement in principle on taking our trade agreement to the next level". The EU’s Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström has produced excellent work, she added. Angela Merkel also thanked the EU’s Mexican partners and advised, "Work on the technical points should now proceed swiftly."

Mexico is Germany’s main trading partner in Latin America
At a joint business forum, Germany and Mexico also signed a cooperation agreement. During their opening tour of the trade fair, Angela Merkel and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto were able to see the first examples of German-Mexican cooperation. Mexico, said the Chancellor, is Germany’s most important trading partner in Latin America. "Last year the volume of bilateral trade rose to over 20 billion euros."

Industry is becoming more digital
This year again it was apparent at the Hannover Messe that industry is becoming increasingly digitalised, with automation and energy technology, intralogistics, IT platforms and artificial intelligence. This year’s lead theme "Integrated Industry – Connect and Collaborate" is designed to demonstrate the potential offered by this development.

The Hannover Messe trade fair is the world’s most important industry trade fair and the largest showcase for capital goods anywhere on the planet. It will run until 27 April. Last year it attracted 225,000 trade visitors, one third of them from outside Germany, and 6,500 exhibitors from 70 countries. This year’s partner Mexico is represented by 160 exhibitors.

References:

News from Berlin