by the El Reportero‘s wire services
MND
As France and Mexico celebrate 200 years of economic relations, a French trade minister is encouraging Mexico to deepen ties with France as a way to diversify markets and supply chains amid uncertainty in its trade relationship with the United States.
French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attraction Nicolas Forissier made the appeal during the presentation of the France-Mexico Economic Report 2026, emphasizing the countries’ shared commitment to multilateralism and rules-based international trade.
The push for closer ties follows the May 22 signing of the Modernized Global Agreement between Mexico and the European Union, updating an agreement in effect since 2000. The new framework seeks to expand trade and investment, improve access to services and public procurement, and eliminate tariffs on 99 percent of products traded between Mexico and the EU.
The effort comes as Mexico faces pressure from the Trump administration during negotiations surrounding the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
Forissier said greater diversification could help Mexico strengthen its economic position while securing critical supply chains. He highlighted minerals and rare earth elements as particularly important because of concerns that access to such resources could be used as a tool of economic pressure.
France views Mexico as a strategic gateway to markets throughout the Americas. At the same time, Paris hopes to serve as a platform for Mexican companies seeking greater access to the European Union, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
Forissier encouraged French companies to expand investment in Mexico and urged Mexican businesses to increase their presence in France.
About 700 French companies currently operate in Mexico, including 37 of France’s 40 largest companies, supporting approximately 215,000 direct jobs, according to the French Embassy.
Cumulative French investment in Mexico totaled $13.6 billion between 2006 and 2025, while bilateral trade reached $7.9 billion last year.
The report also found that more than half of surveyed French companies obtain over half of their purchases from Mexican suppliers.
With reports from López-Dóriga Digital and Reporte Índigo.
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