A deal to implement the new North American free-trade pact, the USMCA, threatened to unravel after Mexico reacted angrily to details in the law to be debated in the US Congress this week.
Mexico’s trade negotiator, Jesús Seade, flew to the US on Sunday for urgent talks over what he said was an attempt to sneak changes into the agreement by the back door, as concern mounted in Mexico that the government had made dangerous concessions to Washington.
US ratification of the USMCA, which updates the quarter century-old Nafta, appeared close following a deal between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Donald Trump that would allow it to be passed by the US Congress after months of wrangling. A House vote is expected as early as Thursday.