U.S. liquor bottlers took a shot at Mexican tequila and won.
Tequila trade talks ended on Tuesday with Mexican officials agreeing to allow U.S. distributors and bottlers to continue importing the libation in bulk for bottling later in the United States.
Nearly two years ago, Mexican government officials accused U.S. bottlers of adding lower-cost alcohol and selling the blend as “tequila.” They threatened to require that the spirit be bottled in one of the five Mexican states that make up the tequila region. It’s in these states of Jalisco, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacan and Tamaulipas where the blue agave plant is cultivated to make the potent drink.
But U.S. groups such as the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States objected to the Mexican government’s prohibition, calling it a violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
And the regulation would have caused a hangover in the U.S. bottling industry, because 73 percent of the $400 million worth of Mexican tequila imported in 2004 was shipped in bulk form.
“We have resolved this important trade challenge in a way that ensures U.S. bottlers will have continued access to bulk tequila,” U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said after he and Mexican Secretary of Economy Sergio Garcia de Alba signed a tequila agreement on Tuesday in Washington.
Tequila festival delivers spirits of Mexico
No one was gulping anything down Saturday during the first day of the first Los Angeles Tequila Festival at Fairplex.
Music, art, food and games were part of the event, but the focus was on the tequila, with scores of manufacturers showing off their different distillations.
"Tequila isn't about just throwing (shots) down and getting drunk," said Phillip Soto, an official taster with the Mexican Academy of Tequila.
Soto said in college he, too, downed shots, until his uncle made him realize there is much more to tequila.
Baby boomers and others with disposable income have discovered quality
Mexico's Most Famous Artist Inspiration for New Frida Kahlo Tequila
Mexico's most famous female artist and style icon, Frida Kahlo, is the inspiration for a new super premium tequila, Frida Kahlo Tequila.
Frida Kahlo Tequila is made from 100% pure blue agave and hand-crafted to the highest standards. Initially, Frida Kahlo Tequila will be launched in three major U.S. markets, including New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, as well as in Mexico, with plans to expand nationally in 2006. Frida Kaho Tequila will be sold at leading spirits shops, and restaurants.
Frida Kahlo Tequila is made in Jesus Maria, in
Tequila Express: Guadalajara
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Tequila Sauza Bottling Plant: Guadalajara
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Mexico to seek new deal with U.S. on agricultural products
Mexico will seek a new accord with the United States to protect part of its agricultural products from impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement, a presidential spokesman said on Monday.
Mexican Economy Minister Sergio Garcia de Alba and Agriculture Minister Francisco Mayorga Castaneda will fly to Washington next week to discuss the issue with U.S. officials beyond the framework of the trade agreement, spokesman Ruben Aguilar said.
The visit is made after Canada and the United States turned down Mexico's request
Mexico, United States Sign New Aviation Agreement
More airlines now can fly between U.S. cities and 14 Mexican destinations
The United States and Mexico have signed a new aviation accord that increases the number of airlines that can fly between U.S. cities and 14 destinations in Mexico.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said in a December 12 statement that the agreement, signed that day in Mexico City, increases from two to three the number of airlines that passengers in each country can select from when flying between the United States and the 14 Mexican cities, which include all of Mexico's major tourist destinations.
The
China, Mexico sign cultural development agreement
The governments of Mexico and China on Tuesday signed an agreement to promote the teaching of the Chinese language and culture in Mexico through a series of teaching institutions named after Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Mexican Education Secretary Reyes Tamez and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Ji signed the agreement at the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the E-9 ministers of education, in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey.
The four Confucius centers will be built at Mexico city's National Autonomous University, the country's largest educational institution, and the autonomous universities of Yucatan, Guadelajara and
China, Mexico sign cultural development agreement
The governments of Mexico and China on Tuesday signed an agreement to promote the teaching of the Chinese language and culture in Mexico through a series of teaching institutions named after Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Mexican Education Secretary Reyes Tamez and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Ji signed the agreement at the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the E-9 ministers of education, in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey.
The four Confucius centers will be built at Mexico city's National Autonomous University, the country's largest educational institution, and the autonomous universities of Yucatan, Guadelajara and
Australia, Mexico to explore FTA
Australia and Mexico will explore the viability of a free trade agreement between the two countries.
Foreign ministers Alexander Downer met Mexican counterpart Luis Ernesto Derbez in Mexico City, who said both countries would have to study whether such an accord would benefit their bilateral trade.
"In March we will have a meeting here of the bilateral economic committee, where we can talk about ... starting a strategy for considering a free trade agreement," Derbez told a news conference following the meeting.
He said that toward the end of 2006, government officials should have a better idea of the
Mexico's Ixe Selling 49 Percent of Fincasa
Mexican financial services company Ixe Grupo Financiero SA said Friday it reached agreement to sell a 49 percent stake in mortgage company Fincasa Hipotecaria to Deutsche Bank AG.
In a filing with the Mexican Stock Exchange, Ixe said the agreement is subject to regulatory approval.
Soure: news.moneycentral.msn.com
