Official: CAFTA would hurt Mexico industry
Mexico’s assembly-for-export industry, which has struggled to compete with China, will likely be hurt further by the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement, officials said Wednesday.
Enrique Castro, president of Mexico’s maquiladora association, said the new trade agreement – still awaiting final approval – would likely affect Mexico’s textile industry the most.
Some companies may prefer to move their factories to Central America, which generally has cheaper labor than Mexico and a growing clothing industry, he said at a news conference.
More: businessweek.com
(AP) MEXICO CITY Excessive drinking, mad bulls and street fights left at least 40 people hurt during the annual running of the bulls in Tlaxcala, Mexico.
Mexican news media reports hundreds of would-be bullfighters crowded the streets of the city of Huamantla Sunday to participate.
Authorities estimated the spectacle drew more than 100,000 spectators from Mexico and foreign countries.
A local newspaper reports that angry bulls ran the streets through the streets for more than two hours, goring numerous participants.
The newspaper also reported people were hurt in several street fights that erupted among observers and participants -- many of whom had been drinking.
At
Soccer legend Valdano hurt in Mexico copter crash
Retired Argentine soccer great Jorge Valdano suffered minor injuries along with seven others in a helicopter crash in Mexico City on Saturday, police said.
Valdano, who was carried from the crash scene in a neck brace, would likely be discharged from the hospital on Sunday, doctors said.
"Jorge Valdano is conscious and has no injuries that could be considered serious," Carlos Lijtszain, emergency room head at the ABC hospital, told reporters.
The helicopter crashed in a street in the capital's business district, almost hitting a truck, but there were no fatalities. Five other passengers in the
Mexican official Morocco, an open gate for Mexico to the Arab world
The Secretary of the Justice commission on Human Rights at the Mexican House of representatives, Amalin Yabur Elias, described Morocco as an open gate for Mexico to access the Arab world, reported MAP news agency.
Elias said, on the occasion of Morocco day in Mexico City on Dec.6-9, that there are several similarities between Mexico and Morocco.
Moroccan Ambassador to Mexico, Mahmoud Rmiki, recalled the political, economic and social reforms made in Morocco and the relations between the two countries.
The president of the Mexican-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Hector Alvarez
Mexico approved as an enhanced enterprise zone
City Manager Tanna Parish said it best. "Whoopee!" was his reaction to the good news that came in the form of a press release from the office of Gov. Matt Blunt stating the Missouri Department of Economic Development has approved Mexico's enhanced enterprise zone status.
Parish said being granted EEZ status is important for Mexico's economic standard and development.
"This gives us a really important tool needed to attract industry to the area," he said and explained while the city was an enterprise zone before and able to offer incentives to industry looking to relocate in
Official sees growth in Mexico economy
Mexico's economy could grow by 4 to 4.5 percent in the fourth quarter and 3.2 to 3.3 percent for the year, and the government will be able to offer pensions for the elderly poor in 2006, a government official said Wednesday.
Government institutions "have begun to give other services ... in ways that you are going to see soon," Eduardo Sojo, head of the presidential office of public policy, told a news conference.
"Pensions for elderly people who are in extreme poverty -- you'll see that next year," he said.
Outlining new anti-poverty initiatives, Sojo stressed that the
Grupo Mexico official says Asarco strike settlement possible
Officials from Mexican copper mining concern Grupo Mexico SA were meeting with union representatives Friday to try to resolve a three-week-old U.S. strike at the company's Asarco unit, an official said Friday.
In a conference call with analysts to discuss Grupo Mexico's second-quarter results, chief financial officer Eduardo Gonzalez said he believed a solution to the strike was possible.
Friday's meeting was the first between management and the union since more than 1,500 workers went on strike in Arizona and Texas to protest the company's proposed wage freeze and reductions in health and pension
Kurt Warner to Miss Game in Mexico City
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner will miss Arizona's upcoming game in Mexico City with a right groin strain.
Warner, the biggest free agent acquisition in the Cardinals' attempt to quickly end their losing ways, was hurt Sunday while scrambling after the pocket broke down in the second quarter at Seattle.
The injury promotes Josh McCown to first string Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, which marks the first regular-season NFL game played on foreign soil.
On Monday, the two-time NFL MVP had a pronounced limp and called the injury substantial, but said doctors were hopeful for a
War of words between Mexico and Venezuela
A diplomatic fight between Mexico and Venezuela worsened yesterday.
Days after branding Mexican President Vicente Fox a "lapdog" of United States imperialism, his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez warned: "Don't mess with me, mister, because you'll get pricked."
Mexico's Foreign Ministry responded, saying it would withdraw its Ambassador to Venezuela unless it received a formal apology.
"The Venezuelan President's declarations hurt the dignity of the people and Government of Mexico," it said.
More: nzherald.co.nz
Mexico government urges respect for law as electoral dispute continues
A spokesman for Mexican President Vicente Fox [official website, in Spanish; BBC profile] said Friday that citizens should show respect for the law as the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary [official website] continues to evaluate the results of the countrys contested July 2 presidential election [JURIST report]. Spokesman Ruben Aguilar [official profile] stressed the administrations decision to not interfere with the courts process and said the decision will be made in adherence to the law without any illegal pressure or blackmail efforts. Mexicos Federal Election Institute (IFE) [official website,
Mexico's auto output rose in August, exports declined
Mexico's auto industry posted a mixed performance in August, as production rose after two months of declines but exports continued to fall.
Mexican auto industry association AMIA said Wednesday that car makers in the country produced 150,189 units last month, up 7.2% from the same month of 2004. Exports, though, slipped 10.5% on the year to 98,512 vehicles, posting their third straight month of declines.
"Total production and exports continue to show some ups-and-downs, but we still expect a recovery in what remains of the second half (of the year)," the association said.
Domestic
