Mexico responds to President Trump on trade and immigration

MEXICO CITY, Jan 23 (Reuters) – The flow of foreigners crossing Mexico to reach the United States makes immigration a shared responsibility between the two countries, Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said on Monday, days before he begins talks with U.S. President Donald Trump’s aides.

Videgaray described Mexico as an “indispensable partner” to the United States.

He noted that the number of foreigners crossing Mexico to reach the United States had more than doubled since 2013 to over 500,000 people during 2016, while the number of undocumented Mexicans crossing the border had fallen sharply.

Mexico’s President Pena Nieto says Mexico is obliged to take steps to defend themselves given the changing values in the U.S and also says U.S. must respect migrant’s rights. \

Nieto aims to preserve tariff-free commerce under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in talks with the new U.S. government.

Mexico will also immediately seek bilateral deals with countries that formed part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal, Pena Nieto said at an event in Mexico City.

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement among Mexico, the United States and Canada, and would move to withdraw if no “fair deal” is forthcoming, according to the White House website.

(Reporting by Dave Graham)