Merkel, Nieto hail EU-Mexico agreement

HANOVER, Apr 23 (AFP): German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who both face trade tensions with US President Donald Trump, on Sunday praised an EU-Mexico deal to boost economic ties.

Pena Nieto also voiced "optimism" that Mexico could reach a deal to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which Trump has threatened to tear up if it is not revised to be more favourable to his country.

Merkel hailed as "truly good news for Europe, Germany and Mexico" the agreement "in principle" reached Saturday between Brussels and the Latin American country to modernise a 2000 free-trade deal, which is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.

"We know we face common challenges, and we believe that multilateral cooperation can be an added value for all," the leader of Europe's top economy said at the opening of the Hanover Fair on industrial technology, where Mexico is this year's partner country.

"And that's why we are working for free international trade based on common rules."

Pena Nieto said that Mexico, long a closed, protectionist economy, had changed into an open, export-based economy "integrated with the entire world", with 12 free trade deals that grant it access to 46 countries.